ACT Alliance Alert: Emergency Response to flash flood survivors in Kemissie and Dewachefa (Oromia)

September 10, 2013 | By Elisabeth Gouel | www.Trust.org

Alert: Ethiopia

Emergency Response to Flash Flood Survivors in Oromia Zone of Amhara Region

Geneva, 6 September 2013

  1. Brief description of the emergency and impact

Heavy rainfall was experienced on August 16, 2013 and triggered flash floods resulting to loss of human life and serious damage to their assets in Kemissie & Dewachefa Wereda of Oromia Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. The flash flood affected 2575 people out of which 52% are females and 57% are children under age of 18. During the assessment with Government and NGOs, it has been found that the flood has caused death of 29 people and 196 livestock. 35 homes were completely destroyed and 154 homes were partially destroyed respectively. 1104 hectares planted with field crops were also destroyed. In addition, local public institutions, including cooperative centers, health care facilities and water points were damaged.

  2. Why is an ACT response needed? 

Most of the survivors are subsistence farmers; and are in urgent need for seed, urgent education materials for their children and repair of water points.

  3. National and international response

The government, in collaboration with other stakeholders, has settled the affected and displaced people temporarily in schools and are provided with emergency food, water and other services. Ethiopian Red Cross Society, CONCEN Ethiopia and World Food Programme have provided food and lifesaving services with limited resources. The district committee has requested the communities and other stake holders (including EECMY-DASSC-NCES) for additional resources to support the affected households.

  4. ACT Alliance response

EECMY-DASSC-NCES undertook a needs assessment and analysis of the situation and provided psychosocial support to the affected communities. EECMY is requesting for RRF funds from ACT Alliance to assist the affected households. ACT members in Ethiopia are EECMY-DASSC, EOC-DICAC, LWF, HEKS, DCA, NCA, CA, Church of Sweden, Bread for the World, EED and IOCC.

  5. Planned activities

Urgent repair of water points, provide Education Materials to 516 school children.

  6. Constraints

Unavailability of funds.

Any funding indication or pledge should be communicated to Jean-Daniel Birmele, Director of Finance (jbi@actalliance.org)