Ethiopia: Flash Update - Update on Landslide in Gofa Zone, South Ethiopia Region (As of 23 July 2024)

This update is prepared by UNOCHA with the support and collaboration of IASC cluster coordinators and partners. Further updates will be provided, as needed. Boundaries, names and designations of districts/zones indicated in the narration in the report do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations. Please contact ocha-eth-communication@un.org for any comment or question you may have on this publication.

HIGHLIGHTS

14,000 people affected

157 people died

  • At least 157 people have reportedly died and more than 14,000 affected by landslide incidents on 21 and 22 July 2024 in Gofa Zone, South Ethiopia Region, according to local authorities.
  • Search and rescue operations are ongoing, under the leadership of local authorities with the support from the Ethiopian Red Cross and community members. The death toll is expected to rise.
  • Authorities and the Ethiopian Red Cross have already dispatched some initial relief to the area.
  • OCHA is coordinating an inter-agency humanitarian assessment team, expected to reach the site later in the evening.
  • Agencies are ready to deliver critical supplies, including food, medical items, and water, sanitation and hygiene support.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Heavy rains on 21 and 22 July caused three successive landslide incidents in a mountainous area in Gezei Gofa Woreda of Gofa Zone, South Ethiopia Region, according to local authorities.

At least 157 people have reportedly died and more than 14,000 people affected, including 6,750 people in Koncho Gozji Kebele and 7,765 people in Koncho Wiza Kebele as of the morning hours of 23 July.

Amongst the deceased are a kebele chairperson, member of the local police, health extension workers, and personnel from the Bureau of Agriculture who were on site providing support after the initial incident on Sunday, 21 July.

Search and rescue operations are ongoing, under the leadership of local authorities with the support from the Ethiopian Red Cross and community members. The death toll is expected to rise, according to local authorities. A similar, but lower-scale landslide incident had occurred in May 2024 in the same area, where more than 50 people had died. Weather extremes, such as floods and droughts, have been major drivers of humanitarian needs in Ethiopia.

The scale of the impact of the incident, including displacement and damages to livelihoods, will be further clarified once the planned multi-agency assessment is completed. Following an emergency meeting with humanitarian partners today, the Commissioner of the Ethiopia Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC) has urged partners that a team must reach the incident area today, 23 July.

RESPONSE

Support to the affected population is mostly shouldered by the local community, who are also part of the search and rescue efforts. Some initial relief items have already been dispatched to the area by federal and regional authorities and local partners. Food, ES/NFI, health and WaSH are the priority needs.

The EDRMC has sent an initial supply of food, emergency shelter and non-food items (ESNFI) to cater for 500 people. The Regional Health Bureau has deployed two cars and medical supplies to the scene and is preparing to send a health team.

Four trucks of life-saving supplies have been dispatched by the Ethiopian Red Cross and are currently being distributed for 500 households.

An inter-agency rapid assessment team, coordinated by OCHA, including WFP and DSS has deployed today, and is expected to reach the site later in the evening. Additional agencies such as UNICEF, WHO, IOM, UNFPA and World Vision will join the team tomorrow. Agencies are ready to deliver relief supplies, including WASH NFIs (UNICEF), Food (WFP), medical supplies and dignity kits (UNFPA), and medical supplies (WHO), as per assessment result.
An NGO-organized rapid response mechanism - SWAN (Save the Children, World Vision, Action Against Hunger and NRC) – which is supported by the Ethiopia Humanitarian Fund (EHF) is already deployed.

COORDINATION

The Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC) is set to establish an Incident Command Post in Sawla to coordinate the humanitarian response. To this end, EDRMC is deploying a senior team to Sawla tomorrow, 24 July. The United Nations and partners are also deploying emergency teams to Sawla to support the coordination and response efforts.

Meanwhile, at the national level, the National Emergency Coordination Center (NECC) will be activated this Friday, 26 July, when a first meeting is called to discuss coordination and response.