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Ethiopia + 1 more

ACT Alliance Alert: Flooding in South Sudanese refugee camp, Leitchour, Ethiopia

Attachments

Geneva, 12th September 2014

1. Brief description of the emergency and impact

Ethiopia is the biggest host country for South Sudanese refugees fleeing the violent conflict in South Sudan since December 2013. Now, catastrophic flooding in August and September 2014, in Western Ethiopia, has compounded the situation for 47,000 South Sudanese refugees in Leitchour camp, mainly children and women, searching for a safe haven in Gambella area. Torrential rains and complicated coordination exacerbated by massive, rapid movement of the refugees make collection of data almost impossible. Yet ACT Alliance members, working in the camp since February, are out among the refugees daily, listening to their stories as they work hard to implement the ongoing ACT appeal ETH141.

2. Why is an ACT response needed?

The number of organisations responding to the immediate needs of the 47,000 refugees in Leitchour camp is inadequate given the dramatically worsening situation of the refugees who are located in a flooded swamp. Basic food security, clean and adequate water supply and other basic necessities are required. Due to the complications of the flooding and governmental policy related to the refugees, a revision of activities for the ongoing ACT appeal ETH 141 is envisaged to respond appropriately to the changing context. ACT appeal ETH141 has a time frame of Jan-Dec 2014 with an appeal target of USD 3.5 M. Currently it is only 32% funded.