September 26, 2007

Heavy torrential rains in Ethiopia have caused severe flooding in the regional states of Amhara and Gambella, affecting more than 60,000 people and destroying farmland, roads and homes. The intensity of the rainfall and the magnitude of the floods is reported to be worse than during the 2006 rainy season in which approximately 98,000 people were affected in the various areas of the region.

In Amhara, heavy rains began in June -- in one case with 3.37 inches falling in one 24-hour period, overflowing the catchments of the Blue Nile river and Lake Tana. Severe flooding is reported in four zones, nine districts and 15 villages within the region. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church-Development Inter Church Aid Commission (EOC-DICAC) reports that 13,710 people are affected by the floods, including close to 5,000 displaced persons who were forced to abandon their homes. The floods have washed away a total of some 5,576 hectares (13,772 acres) of farmland. Destroyed crops included barley, rice, pepper, Niger seed, maize, sorghum, and finger millet.

Most of the flood survivors are currently sheltered in individual houses and schools. Some displaced persons have received limited shelter assistance from the local government, but many communities still remain without any external assistance.

In Gambella, torrential rains fell upstream and across highlands, and have increased water levels of the tributaries of the Baro and Gilo Rivers. The rivers are now close to bursting their banks. The East and West Gambella Bethel Synods DASSC of the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus (EECMY) reports that the heavy rains since August have caused widespread damage to field crops, homes, property, and roads. The resulting emergency from the floods is ongoing.

Floods have affected 46,667 people in Gambella, and more than 8,670 people are reported to have been displaced. It is estimated that more than 37,997 people have lost their crops and food sources in the fields in East Gambella alone. In Gambella town, many of the displaced people have found shelter in the high school and three other elementary schools.

The affected communities of both East and West Gambella have not yet received any external assistance except for those displaced persons in Gambella town.

RESPONSE: CWS is monitoring this situation and is prepared to support a response by its partners belonging to the ACT Ethiopia Forum, which in addition to EOC and the EECMY includes Christian Aid, Dan Church Aid, International Orthodox Christian Charities, Lutheran World Federation, Norwegian Church Aid, and Swiss Interchurch Aid.

Media Contact: Lesley Crosson, CWS/New York, 212-870-2676; lcrosson@churchworldservice.org Jan Dragin, 781-925-1526; jdragin@gis.net