Ethiopia, a country with diverse topography and climatic conditions, has faced numerous natural disasters over the years. Among these, landslides have posed significant challenges, impacting communities, infrastructure, and the economy.
Landslides in Ethiopia are often triggered by heavy rainfall, deforestation, and the country’s complex geology. These events have devastating effects on communities, leading to loss of lives, destruction of homes, and disruption of livelihoods. In May 2020, a landslide in the Sidama region killed over 22 people and displaced hundreds. This incident highlighted the urgent need for effective disaster response mechanisms and preventive measures.
In a tragic turn of events, the death toll from the recent July 2024 landslides in southern Ethiopia has surged to 157. The devastating landslides struck the Gofa zone in the Southern Ethiopia regional state.
Early Warning Systems and Preparedness
One of the critical lessons learned from past landslides is the importance of early warning systems. Ethiopia has made strides in developing and implementing early warning systems to mitigate the impact of natural disasters. The National Meteorology Agency (NMA) has been instrumental in providing timely weather forecasts and alerts to vulnerable communities. According to the NMA, their early warning system has significantly reduced the number of casualties in recent years by enabling timely evacuations and preparedness measures.
Ethiopia has been facing significant climate-related challenges, including prolonged droughts and severe flooding. These events have had devastating impacts, affecting millions of people across various regions. In response, Ethiopia has been actively working to enhance its disaster risk management and early warning systems. Here are the key efforts and initiatives undertaken by Ethiopia:
The country is implementing its Roadmap for a Multi-hazard, Impact-based Early Warning and Early Action System as part of the Early Warnings for All (EW4All) Initiative. This roadmap aims to strengthen national, sub-national, and community-based early warning systems to better prepare for and respond to climate-related hazards.
The EDRMC, in collaboration with the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) and the United Nations Country Team in Ethiopia, has convened technical experts from various organizations and regions to improve the use of risk data in early warning systems. This collaborative effort focuses on enhancing the delivery of early warnings to vulnerable populations.
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To improve disaster preparedness and response, Ethiopia is developing a risk information management system. This system will support the operationalization of a situation room linked to Emergency Coordination Centres (ECC) at national and regional levels.
A 2022 report by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) noted that while early warning systems have improved, there is still a need for better communication channels to ensure that information reaches remote and underserved communities effectively.
