United Nations responding to Ethiopian floods

(New York: 17 August 2006): The United Nations is responding to needs arising from recent floods in South Omo Valley in Ethiopia.

The Government's Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency (DPPA) has confirmed that floods in the area have killed 364 people and displaced approximately 6000 to 10,000. The affected area is in the isolated delta of the Omo river in Kuraz Woreda, 40 kilometres from the capital city of the woreda, Omorate, and about 800 kilometres from the capital, Addis Ababa. The area is inaccessible by road, making response difficult. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing.

A team led by the Regional President visited the affected sites yesterday to assess the impact of the tragedy and to identify the immediate humanitarian needs. The South Omo Valley floods are part of a wider crisis affecting the country. Floods with devastating impact have been reported countrywide in most regions and heavy rains are expected to cause further flooding.

The DPPA, with support from the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), is responding to immediate needs for both food and non-food relief. Food stocks for 5,000 people have already been dispatched. The Ethiopian Pastoral and Research Development Association (EPARDA) has also sent food and other supplies and has deployed a medical team in the area. The non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Action Aid and Farm Africa have both deployed teams to the area. A mobile health team and a water, sanitation and hygiene team were formed and dispatched to the affected areas. They will supply vaccinations, treatment and malaria nets to the affected population. The mobile team is assisted by staff from the regional health bureau, ESHE, UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO). The UNICEF has also sent emergency water kits today, while the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is supporting coordination efforts at the regional and national levels and has deployed a staff member to the area.

Immediate gaps in the humanitarian response include search and rescue support. Much of the affected population have been stranded by the flood waters. Boats, helicopters and life jackets are needed to support ongoing rescue efforts. The DPPA has also requested food and non-food items to meet immediate humanitarian needs.

The remoteness and difficulty in accessing the affected communities has made accurate estimates of the displaced, missing, dead and needs difficult.

For further information, please call: Stephanie Bunker, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 5126, mobile +1 917 892 1679; Kristen Knutson, OCHA-New York, +1 917 367 9262; Elisabeth Byrs, OCHA-Geneva, +41 22 917 2653, mobile, +41 79 473 4570. OCHA press releases are available at http://ochaonline.un.org or www.reliefweb.int.