Ethiopian Communication Affairs Minister, Getachew Reda, confirmed on Thursday12 May 2016, that as many as 100 people have been killed by recent floods and landslides in Oromia and Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR).
Earlier this week heavy rain triggered a landslide in Kindo Didaye woreda (district), Wolaita zone, SNNPR on 09, May 2016. Floods also struck in Bale zone, Oromia Region.
In a separate development, local media say that landslides have severely damaged the Wolayta-Shashemene road.
The government has adopted further precautionary measures by relocating people in flood-prone areas.
Getachew Reda added that successful aid delivery was also conducted in large scale, with heavy trucks of Defence Ministry being used for distribution exercise.
Mitiku Kassa, commissioner with the Natural Disaster Risk Management Agency told Ethiopian station, Fana Broadcasting, that communities could survive on recently distributed food aid for two months, noting that relief operations would not be hampered by muddy roads during rainy season.
Ethiopian government is purchasing an additional 499,536 metric tons of wheat from abroad. Some 188,908,000 Birr is required to deal with the predicted impacts of flash floods across Ethiopia.
Flood Preparations
Early Warning and Emergency Response Coordinator at the National Disaster Risk Management Commission Beletu Tefera anticipated the displacement of around 189,668 people during the Kremt rainy season.
Ethiopian government is planning to enhance dam management to swiftly respond to El Nino-induced floods. The Basin High Council presided over by Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonen have sought to in advance ensure close coordination between the federal government and regional administrations at 04 May meeting during which policymakers drafted flood contingency plan.
