Ethiopia: UN agencies provide emergency grants in response to flooding

With continued heavy rains spawning renewed flooding across Ethiopia, the United Nations’ humanitarian and development agencies are issuing emergency grants to help the affected population.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement that it is planning to provide $50,000 for the humanitarian response, while the UN Development Programme (UNDP) is contributing $200,000.

In the past month, hundreds have been killed and tens of thousands displaced by devastating floods in the East African nation, which has experienced some of the heaviest rains and most intense flooding on record.

OCHA says many dams are nearing maximum capacity and, with more rain predicted for the coming weeks, there are fears that the number of victims could rise.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian agency reports that helicopter rescues have stopped in the South Omo area, about 800 kilometres south of the capital, Addis Ababa. OCHA says the remaining 4,000 people who are still surrounded by water are reluctant to leave their livestock behind.