BY FIKADU BELAY
Many parts of the country are currently experiencing varying level of rainfall. For a country whose agrarian and pastoral areas were suffering continuous drought, the rainfall maybe welcome.
Yet the alarming issue that clicks in the minds of many people is the fact that the rainfall is untimely or preseason and what is going to happen in the season when many farmers expect adequate rainfall for farming. The risk of flood is also one of the disasters that are feared to cause damage especially in urban areas. Due to its topography, Ethiopia is vulnerable to floods, which cause death and property damage as well as serious harm to the environment that can have a long-lasting impact on the ecosystem. Ethiopia has seen severe droughts for five consecutive rainy seasons, notably in the southern and southeastern parts of the country. Based on some reports, rainfall this fall has been both normal and above average.
According to Asamnew Teshome (PhD), director of forecasting and early warning at the Ethiopian National Meteorological Institute, there has been a lot of heavy rain this year in both the regions where the second rainy season is and the parts where the autumn rains are the main wet months. Since February 24, 2023, several parts of Ethiopia, particularly in the second rainy season of fall, have had various amounts of rain, including South Tigray, East Amhara, the Afar area, Central Ethiopia, and Eastern Ethiopia. The southern and mid-southern part of the nation has seen significant rainfall since March 09, 2023, the primary rainy season in the autumn.
According to Asamnew, the humid weather that arrived in the country from the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean has produced an ideal condition for the areas in the nation that desperately need the autumn rains to receive enough rainfall. In this regard, these places have a sufficient amount of water during the autumn, thereby fostering an atmosphere that is conducive to agriculture and the supply of animal fodder. This fiscal year, following the drought, floods are causing serious harm, according to Taye Getachew, Directorate Director, Early Warning and Emergency Response, of the National Disaster Risk Management Commission of Ethiopia. This year, flooding brought on by torrential rains occurred in a number of southern region zones, including Gofa zone, Kenbata Tanbaro zone, Gedye, Silte, Konso, Gamo, Omo, Alaba, Baskitona, and Amaro special wereda, that led deaths and significant property and animal including humans damages, he added.
In addition to stating that the previously planted crop fields in these places are now unusable as a result of the extreme flooding, he also stated that the land’s condition is a possible cause for the displacement of people who escaped the devastation from water erosion. According to him, there were serious harm to people, animals, and property as a result of the landslides brought on by the rains in Ethiopia’s southern area, including the Sidama region. However, he also noted that there had been major flooding in a few locations in the Amhara, Gambella, and Afar regions. River flooding has both environmental and socio-economic impacts; its fatality is unquestionable. The environmental impacts may include pollution carrying debris, pollutants, and nutrients, and damage to streams and riparian vegetation.
Furthermore, floods damage crops and inundate farmlands, which can lead to food shortages. Floods also damage property and displace those living in the flooded area. Malnutrition can be caused by inadequate supplies of food during a natural disaster and problems with distribution. In addition, severe damage to hospitals, health centers, and other facilities has been reported in many countries following intense flooding. More importantly, health facilities may be inaccessible to those in need of medical attention due to the flooding. Above all, significant stress can also result from floods because of damage to property; disrupted livelihoods, and the loss of social networks.
According to Taye, the majority of accidents take place in Ethiopia’s rural areas, where the problem of the community not filling the river with soil and sand may cause the river to break, and in the urban areas, where the problem of cleaning results in any garbage getting stuck in the pipes and blocking the pipes. In addition to the big city, Addis Ababa, many other urban areas can also be affected by low drainage standards, poor drainage capacity, inappropriate drainage alignment, aged drainage facilities, complicated drainage pipe networks with unreasonable settings, rapid housing development along river banks, and interruption of drainage facilities with other urban utility lines. It is then difficult to drain the logged water out of the system in time before it causes severe flooding.
Environmental pollution by floods is a critical issue that requires our utmost attention and immediate action. Floods have become more frequent and severe due to climate change, human activities, and poor planning and management of land and water resources. Floods can contaminate water sources, spread disease, displace communities, and cause significant damage to infrastructure, crops, and livestock. Asamnew predicted that the country’s south, east, and southwest would have strong rainfall during the current autumn season, which encompasses the month of May.
Taye recommended that any population that resides in a city avoid putting trash down the drains and regularly clean them. In rural areas, it is advisable to fill in and cover any potential river bursting points with sand and soil. To address this problem, we need to adopt a holistic and integrated approach that combines prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery measures. This includes investing in resilient infrastructure and ecosystems, improving early warning systems and communication, promoting sustainable land and water management practices, and empowering local communities and stakeholders to participate in decision-making and planning processes.
Although the task is daunting, we cannot afford to delay action any longer. There be need to act with urgency, determination, and cooperation at all levels of government, civil society, and the private sector to protect our environment, health, and well-being from the harmful effects of environmental pollution caused by flooding. By working together and taking proactive steps, we can create a better and more sustainable future for ourselves and generations to come.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 17 MAY 2023
