The death toll from landslides in Ethiopia has risen to 257, and is expected to rise to 500, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said on Thursday.
On Tuesday, Ethiopia’s National Disaster Risk Management Commission put the death toll at 229.
Following heavy rain a landslide buried people in Gofa zone in Southern Ethiopia regional state on Sunday night, then a second one engulfed others who had gathered to help on Monday morning.
A total of 125 people are displaced and currently sheltering with the host communities, while 12 people who sustained injuries were taken to Sawla Hospital for treatment.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing under the leadership of local authorities with the support from the Ethiopian Red Cross Society and community members – mainly digging through mounds of mud with their bare hands and spades for lack of other options. The death toll is expected to rise to up to 500 people as per information received from local authorities.
According to the OCHR, the number of people affected rose to 15,515 as of 24 July up from 14,000 reported on 23 July. These people are at high risk of further landslides and need to be evacuated to safe zones immediately.
Amongst these are at least 1,320 children under 5 years of age and 5,293 pregnant and lactating women. The Federal Government, in collaboration with regional and zonal authorities is finalizing an evacuation plan.
On Tuesday, Ethiopia’s National Disaster Risk Management Commission put the death toll at 229.
Following heavy rain a landslide buried people in Gofa zone in Southern Ethiopia regional state on Sunday night, then a second one engulfed others who had gathered to help on Monday morning.
A total of 125 people are displaced and currently sheltering with the host communities, while 12 people who sustained injuries were taken to Sawla Hospital for treatment.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing under the leadership of local authorities with the support from the Ethiopian Red Cross Society and community members – mainly digging through mounds of mud with their bare hands and spades for lack of other options. The death toll is expected to rise to up to 500 people as per information received from local authorities.
According to the OCHR, the number of people affected rose to 15,515 as of 24 July up from 14,000 reported on 23 July. These people are at high risk of further landslides and need to be evacuated to safe zones immediately.
Amongst these are at least 1,320 children under 5 years of age and 5,293 pregnant and lactating women. The Federal Government, in collaboration with regional and zonal authorities is finalizing an evacuation plan.
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