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Ethiopia

Ethiopia: Flash Update #2 - Seismic Situation in Afar and Oromia (as of 10 January 2025)

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  • The Government is evacuating over 60,000 people from high-risk areas to safer locations. The evacuations are taking place amid ongoing tremors, in hilly areas experiencing rockfalls, near a site emitting ash since 2 January, and around a major dam.
  • A comprehensive humanitarian response is underway, but significant gaps remain.
  • Government-led zonal Incident Command Posts (ICP) have been established in Awash (Afar Region) with OCHA and Cluster staff embedded to streamline coordination; and in Metehara (Oromia Region).
  • UN and NGO partners are supporting the government-led response. A multi-sector initial rapid assessment (MIRA) started on 8 January and will provide a clearer understanding of the affected population at each site, as well as the scale of loss and damage.
  • Scientific assessments continue, but predictions remain uncertain. The cumulative impact of these earthquakes underscores the urgent need to evaluate and address infrastructure vulnerabilities.

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