Flooding in Gambella Regional State

Heavy torrential rains since August 16, 2008 in the Gambella Regional States, Ethiopia have caused severe flooding, affecting thousands of people and destroying farmland and homes.

ACT member the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus Development Social Services Commission (EECMY-DASSC) reported three woredas in the Gambella Regional State - Lare, Itang and Abobo are severely affected. A woreda is an administrative division of Ethiopia (managed by a local government), equivalent to a district.

In Lare woreda, two children were killed and 11,879  people displaced due to the flooding. The floods have also killed 133 livestock, damaged 1,494 hectares of maize and 360 hectares of sorghum and destroyed 300 grass-thatched houses. The flash floods in Itang woreda have killed one person, and have resulted in the displacement of more than 12,000 people. A total of 600 houses and household properties are reported to have been destroyed in the woreda. In Abobo woreda, the floods have submerged 2,406 hectares of maize, of which 827 hectares is  completely destroyed. In addition, 89 hectares of sorghum, 269 hectares of sesame and 13 hectares of peas have also been damaged.

The displaced population in these areas are extremely vulnerable without shelter, food, safe and potable water, sanitary facilities and clothing. Threats of communicable and water borne diseases are also a concern. The humanitarian situation is likely to deteriorate as a result of the floods and expected rainfall in the region in the coming weeks.

Although the World Food Program (WFP), International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Ethiopian Red Cross (ERC) and NGOs such as the Samaritan Purse and Food for the Hungry have a presence in the region and have visited the affected woredas, so far, only Food for the Hungry has mobilized its humanitarian response. The NGO has provided 200 quintals of  maize to the affected population, while the Ethiopian Disaster Prevention and Food Security Department has supplied 25 cartoons of oil and 400 quintals of Famix to the affected population in Lare woreda, and 10 cartoons of oil and 200 quintals of Famix to Itang woreda. UNICEF has announced that it will supply medical supplies such as drugs through the regional Health Bureau. The assistance provided so far is far from adequate and does not cover all the flood-affected communities.

Planned activities

ACT Ethiopia Forum, on the basis of the preliminary information it has received from the region, is planning to set up an assessment team. The team jointly with the East and West Gambella synods of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus and local Government partners is expected to visit the region from August 27, 2008 to carry out a rapid assessment in the flood affected areas. On the basis of the findings of this assessment, the ACT Ethiopia Forum may submit a request for a Rapid Response Fund to the ACT Coordinating Office to enable the members in Ethiopia  to address the immediate needs of population affected by these floods.

ACT Ethiopia Forum consists of  Christian Aid, DanChurchAid, Lutheran World Federation Department for World Service, Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus Development and Social Services Commission (EECMY-DASSC), Ethiopian Orthodox Church Development and Inter-Church Aid Commission (EOC-DICAC), Hilfswerk der Evangelischen Kirchen Schweiz (HEKS), International Orthodox Christian Charities and Norwegian Church Aid.

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jessie Kgoroeadira, ACT Finance Officer (jkg@act-intl.org).