Addis Ababa: The Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Council has set out future directions to intensify the disaster emergency response activities.

In its emergency session held in Dire Dawa City, the council has discussed in detail on the current disasters including the recent landslide and floods triggered by heavy rains and reviewed the humanitarian aid response.

Deputy Prime Minister Temesgen Tiruneh who is also Chairman of the council recalled that many of the citizens have lost their lives following the sudden accidents caused by heavy rains in this rainy season.

Recall that a landslide which occurred in last July 2024 and triggered by heavy rain in the Gofa Zone alone has killed over 231people.

Acknowledging the current national efforts to mitigate risks are commendable, the Deputy Prime Minister stressed the need for establishing effective emergency preparedness system to manage the future accidents.

Temesgen further emphasized on the importance of revisiting and inspecting the government disaster
risk management structures in a way to give a proactive emergency response and handle crises.

Accordingly, the Deputy Prime Minister has given executive order to the council in order enhance disaster prevention activities and provide timely information, noting there is forecast data that indicates other disasters may still occur.

For this, he said, there is a need to inform the citizens in the areas of risk and relocate them when it becomes necessary.

The Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the importance of enhancing relief support for those displaced by disasters. Temesgen also underlined that it is to focus on finding long-term solutions in this regard.

The rehabilitation activities of citizens who have been displaced by the previous conflicts will continue to be strengthened in coordination with the various regions of the country, he stated.

On the other hand, he stressed that accurate information of beneficiaries and citizens seeking support should be clarified and linked to the national identificatio
n program.

He also emphasized on the strengthening of resource mobilization initiatives for emergency response works.

Director General of the Ethiopian Meteorological Institute Fetene Teshome on his part mentioned the prediction of the ongoing Ethiopia’s rainy season which has continued to receive heavy rains since May 2024 due to the influence of La Niña.

He also indicated that above-normal rainfall is expected to continue until September, adding that citizens in the Abbay, Awash, Baro Akobo, and other basins are at risk of flooding.

Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commissioner Shiferaw Teklemaryam has reported that this year’s winter has seen unprecedented disasters.

He stated that evacuation of citizens from river basins and slopes vulnerable to floods and landslides has begun, and urged the leadership to reinforce these efforts.

Shiferaw stressed that the society should notice early warnings and take precautions to protect themselves from any future danger.

Finally, the Ethiopian Disaster Risk M
anagement Council has set out direction to consolidate activities of covering humanitarian aid by the country’s own capacity.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency

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