Attachments
Description of the Event
Date of event
18-03-2026
What happened, where and when?
On March 10–11, 2026, heavy and sustained rainfall triggered severe flooding and landslides across parts of Gamo Zone in South Ethiopia that resulted in a major humanitarian emergency. The disaster primarily affected Gacho Baba, Kemba, and Bonke woredas, with the most devastating impacts recorded in Mazo Dayiza kebele of Gacho Baba woreda. Many community members were overwhelmed within a short period, as landslides killed people, buried homes, destroyed farmland, and killed livestock. The event has caused significant loss of life, widespread displacement, and severe disruption to livelihoods.
Leveraging in-country resources, ERCS conducted a rapid assessment, completed on 18 March 2026, alongside ongoing search and rescue operations and initial relief distributions. In light of the scale of humanitarian needs and evolving vulnerabilities, the Government called upon ERCS to scale up its response to address urgent and unmet needs.