SUMMARY OF CRISIS AND KEY FINDINGS

24 May 2024

Weeks of relentless rainfall have plunged East Africa into a state of emergency, affecting hundreds of thousands of people across Burundi, Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, Rwanda, Somalia, and Tanzania. Heavy rains and flash floods continued to cause damage and displacement with an estimated 1.6 million people affected, including 473 people who lost their lives and nearly 410 350 people who have been displaced, as of 17 May. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) described the climatic events as “the worst flooding seen in decades”. In Ethiopia, more than 560 000 people have been affected by the heavy rains and flooding experienced in April and early May in several districts, including Afar, Amhara, Central Ethiopia, Oromia, Sidama, Somali, South Ethiopia and South West Ethiopia People’s, Tigray regions and Dire Dawa City Administration, according to the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC). Nearly 57 000 people have been displaced, some of whom have since returned home. Houses, public infrastructure, and croplands have sustained significant damage, thus further limiting the population’s access to services, particularly in areas already affected by conflict, prolonged drought, ongoing cholera outbreak, as well as preexisting poor road infrastructure.

• Somali Zone: The Somali Region, where rivers overflowed, is the most affected area, with at least 51 000 people displaced, according to preliminary reports. Two deaths have been reported. There are also reports that 17 925 households, home to 25 445 individuals, have been impacted. Key infrastructure, including roads and bridges, has been washed away or damaged, disrupting the movement of essential goods and affecting local businesses. Most of the flood-affected communities now have no access to basic services and markets. The lack of safe drinking water, collapsed latrines, overcrowding, and shortage of sanitation facilities pose serious health risks, potentially leading to outbreaks of waterborne diseases and respiratory illnesses. Reports from the Shebelle Zone, Somali region, indicate that the livelihood of pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities in the area have been severely affected. The flood has destroyed a total of 20 365 hectares of irrigation farms. Additionally, nine irrigation pumps were washed away by the flood and livestock losses include 1 150 animals. In Somali region, health facilities have been severely impacted, including five health posts and one health center in reporting damage. None of these facilities are currently operational.

• Amhara Region: Heavy rains experienced at the beginning of May in the Amhara Region led to floods in the displacement site Jari #2, in South Wollo Zone, reportedly causing damage to tents, leading to the displaced having to share tents, in a congested shelter condition, with associated health and protection challenges.

• Oromia Region: Heavy rainfall since early May has caused severe flooding, affecting 9 villages of the Gujis, in southern Oromia; flooding has also been reported in some areas of Sidama, Central Ethiopia and South Ethiopia. In West Guji alone, 120 481 people have been affected, with 102 128 people displaced and five deaths. Above 3 000 houses have been totally or partially destroyed and 13 779 hectares of farming land has been damaged, worsening the already dire food security situation in the area.

• South Ethiopia: In South Ethiopia, 4 000 individuals were affected and three deaths reported. Further flooding is expected, as the National Flood Contingency Plan for the 2024 Belg/Gu season (March-May) has anticipated above-normal rainfall affecting most of the southern parts of the country.

• Central Ethiopia: In Central Ethiopia, 4 065 were displaced, with six deaths reported, 100 houses destroyed and 774 hectares of crop land damaged. The devastation includes the destruction of 6 huts and 7 houses, along with the loss of livestock. Additionally, 77 hectares of maize farms have been destroyed.