Ethiopia: Floods [DHA-03: 26-Aug-96]

                    ETHIOPIA - FLOODS
           DHA GENEVA INFORMATION REPORT NO.3
                     26 AUGUST 1996


1.     UN   RESIDENT   COORDINATOR   IN   ADDIS   ABABA  REPORTS  FURTHER
DETERIORATION IN FLOODS SITUATION ALONG AWASH RIVER BASIN.

2.   DESPITE EFFORTS UNDERWAY TO STRENGTHEN AND RAISE FLOOD
PROTECTION DIKES EITHER SIDE OF RIVER, MORE AND MORE AREAS ARE
REPORTED TO BE INUNDATED.

3.   WATER DISCHARGE FROM KOKA RESERVOIR IS CONTINUING IN
ACCELERATED PACE, TO PREVENT WATER LEVEL FROM RISING FURTHER.
ACCORDING TO GOVT, THIS IS CAUSING SERIOUS FLOODING BETWEEN WONJI
AND METAHARA, PUTTING 150,000 PEOPLE AT RISK.    MILITARY
HELICOPTERS HAVE BEEN PUT ON STAND-BY FOR POSSIBLE RESCUE
OPERATION.

4.   GOVT HAS PRE-POSITIONED FOOD AND SHELTER SUPPLIES FOR 30,000
PEOPLE AND IS MAKING EFFORTS TO MOBILIZE ADDITIONAL SUPPLIES FROM
IN-COUNTRY STOCKS HELD BY UN AGENCIES AND INTERNATIONAL NGO'S.

5.   NO GENERAL APPEAL FOR INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN
ISSUED BY GOVT TO DATE.  HOWEVER, SPECIFIC REQUESTS ARE BEING
MADE LOCALLY TO A NUMBER OF UN AGENCIES AND NGO'S.  RELIEF ITEMS
REQUESTED BY GOVT INCLUDE SHELTER MATERIALS, MEDICAL KITS, AND
MOTOR BOATS.

6.   IN RESPONSE TO REQUEST RECEIVED, UNDP/DHA IS LOCALLY
MOBILIZING RESOURCES TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL TENTS AND PLASTIC
SHEETING.  UNICEF AND SAVE THE CHILDREN/UK ARE ALSO PROVIDING
THESE ITEMS, AND MSF/BELGIUM AND MSF/HOLLAND ARE PROVIDING
MEDICAL AND SHELTER SUPPLIES.

7.   UNDP/DHA, TOGETHER WITH UNICEF AND WFP, IS SENDING MISSION
TODAY FROM ADDIS ABABA TO ASSESS SITUATION AND RELIEF OPERATIONAL
ARRANGEMENTS.

8.   FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES, DONORS ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM
DHA-GENEVA, AS INDICATED BELOW, OF BILATERAL RELIEF
MISSION/PLEDGES/ CONTRIBUTIONS AND THEIR CORRESPONDING VALUE BY
ITEM.


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DESK OFFICER:  MS. KAYO GOTOH, DIRECT TEL. +41-22/917.12.58
PRESS TO CONTACT: MS. M. MOULIN-ACEVEDO, DIRECT TEL.
+41-22/917.28.56
TELEX:  414242 DHA CH
FAX:  +41-22/917.00.23
ELECTRONIC MAIL:  DHAGVA@DHA.UNICC.ORG


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