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Ethiopia: Floods - Aug 2019

Disaster description

Due to above normal rains during the first weeks of August, flooding in South Gondar Zone in the Amhara region of Ethiopia has left 2 people dead and many households inundated. The flooding occurred in Fogera and Libo Kemekem woredas on 11-12 of August, and is attributable to the overflow of the rivers that are tributaries of the Lake Tana and Blue Nile. Reportedly 25,000 have been affected, 6,653 houses have been flooded, 18 schools damaged, and 3,428 hectares of crop-areas have been covered by water. (ECHO, 16 Aug 2019)

Regions continue to report incidences of flooding which is affecting the lives and livelihood of communities and causing displacement in several woredas. Official request from Afar, Amhara, Oromia and SNNP regions indicate that flood has affected and displaced nearly 30,000 people (≈6,000 HHs). Dubti, Dolecha, Gelalo, Teru, Awash- fentale woredas in Afara region, Libo – kemekem and Fogera in Amhara reion, Illu and Sebeta Hawas woredas in oromia region, and Silte in SNNP are among the most severely affected by flood. The largest flood-induced IDPs (≈17,000) are found in Afar region, the majority of whom are in Dubti woreda. Flood also displaced some 6,615 IDPs in Illu and Sebeta-hawase woredas in Southwest Shewa Zone of Oromia region, some 700 people in Libokemekem woreda South Gonder zone of Amhara region and some 1,284 people in Silite woreda, Silite Zone of SNNP region. Findings of the joint rapid assessment in flood affected woredas in Shaballe zone also indicate over 1,600 HH were displaced and 2,350HH affected by flash floods in Kalafo and Mustahil woredas, damaging over 2,600 hectares of farmland. The Government of Ethiopia has allocated and dispatched some 4,309 Quintals of food (Cereal, CSB, Biscuit, and Oil) and some partial kits of NFIs. (OCHA, 15 Sep 2019)

On 2 October, heavy rainfall in Gambella Town has led to the overflow of Baro River, flooding areas along the river bed...The Gambella Region Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and Food Security Agency, in collaboration with international partners, conducted an assessment on 3 October to identify humanitarian needs. According to the assessment team, at least 353 households (1,405 people) were displaced across five kebeles, and their houses were fully flooded, and their livelihoods destroyed...Heavy rains in parts of Somali region and neighboring highlands caused flooding in Kalafo, Mustahil and Bercano woredas (Shabelle zone); Dolo Ado woreda in Liban zone and Cherati woreda in Afder zone. Flash floods also occurred in Babile (Fafan zone) and Elweyne (Nogob zone). Preliminary reports indicate that 2,285 households (13,710 people) were affected and 853 households displaced. The majority of the displaced (800 households) are in Dolo Ado Town, while the remaining 53 households are in Cherati Town. Homes were destroyed; 1,041 hectares of cropland flooded and 987 heads of livestock killed from the floods. (OCHA, 6 Oct 2019)

During the month of October, several flood incidences were reported in Afar, Oromia, SNNP and Somali regions displacing thousands and causing loss of property and livelihoods. Reportedly, some 202,202 people have been displaced across the country, the majority (127,524 people) in Somali region. (OCHA, 20 Oct 2019)

Nationwide, flooding between May and November 2019 has affected a total of 102,455 households across nine regions, of whom some 37,631 households were displaced. Floods have also damaged some 86,230 hectares of cropland. (OCHA, 15 Dec 2019)

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