ETHIOPIA: Rescue operation in Ethiopia's Omereta region continues while victims start receiving relief

Ethiopian authorities are fighting to help rescue people still stranded after the river Omo recently broke its banks and flooded parts of the coffee producing country. Using military helicopters, tossed ropes and speedboats rescuers have helped many who scrambled onto rooftops and trees to escape floods that have killed 900 and marooned tens of thousands. Rushing waters have devastated large areas throughout the Horn of Africa nation since early this month as emergency services struggle to cope with overwhelming numbers of evacuees. After two rivers burst their banks killing 870 people, Ethiopia has warned that more rivers have overflowed in the north, south, east and west. The situation was not likely to get any better, as the rainy season would last until September. Helicopters, dispatched to the south, used ropes to save thousands of mainly local herders cut off by the waters and dropped emergency aid by air. "The Government helped us from flood disaster, they brought us to safety. But we have lots of problems including housing and lack of cooking material. A few people receive cooking materials while others do not. We are still hopeful that those who did not get any relief, will somehow receive it in the near future," said Asere, one of the flood victims while waiting for relief to arrive. Africa's second most populous nation, Ethiopia has appealed for international aid to help overwhelmed emergency services. After suffering from a drought last year, heavy rains have been battering the country in recent weeks. "Flash floods occurred in the Omo River not far from the Kenya border and damaged our houses. Children and women were swept away by the water. I know 54 people who were swept away. I rescued myself because I now how to swim. But I lost a number of cows, my friends and neighbours as well. The best the government can do for us is to move us to higher ground away from this area that has been affected by floods," said another flood victim Loitori Charikebaa. Floods typically happen in lowland areas after rains in the June-August rainy season drench the highlands.

ITN Source | August 28, 2006

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