Ethiopia:Flood affects 6,000 people in the north

NAIROBI, 14 Aug 2006 (IRIN) – While the search continues for 290 people still missing after the devastating flood waters in Dire Dawa, eastern Ethiopia, officials reported that 6,000 people in the northern area had also been affected.

“In the middle of Wednesday night, Tekeze River overflowed and caused heavy flooding in Humera town, 1,000 kms from Addis Ababa [the capital], displacing 2,000 people,” said Sebu Hagos, public relations officer and adviser to the Western Tigray Administration. “The lives of more than 4,000 people living around the river are also in danger.”

The biggest concern, he added, was if the rains continued at the present intensity because five residential houses had already been destroyed, 50 others were surrounded by water and more would be at risk. The flood had also destroyed 9,000 hectares of farmland.

“The displaced are sheltered in schools,” said Sebu. “We are appealing to the Federal Government to provide relief assistance and other necessary support for them.”

Sisay Tadesse, head of public relations for the Federal Disaster
Prevention and Preparedness Agency, told IRIN the agency had not received any appeal from the town. “We have heard about the damage around the Tekeze River, but we have not received any appeal for assistance,” said Sisay. “If the problem is not beyond their capacity, they will not ask for DPPA’s help.”

This is the third flooding incident in the country to displace a large number of people over the past few weeks. Flooding has affected large areas of eastern and southern Ethiopia.

sa/mw

[ENDS]

Source: IRIN, Aug 14, 2006