Thousands of people have been displaced by ongoing earthquake activity north-east of Addis Ababa, where there are also fears of a possible volcanic eruption.
As reported by the BBC in this article: “In recent weeks, there have been more than a dozen seismic events around Awash Fentale – an earthquake-prone area of Ethiopia’s Afar region.”
Our partner the Afar Pastoralist Development Association (APDA) are responding with emergency assistance and they need your support.
Your urgent gift can help evacuate families NOW.
Key figures
> 13,730 households are reported to have been displaced from Awash and Dulecha.
> 170 houses, 9 schools and 1 health centre in Awash town are cracked and unsafe.
> 7 IDP sites are currently home to the thousands of people who have been displaced.
> As many as 24 quakes and aftershocks have been reported since September, measuring up to 5.8 on the Richter scale.
Ongoing earthquake activity in Awash and Dulecha woredas of the Afar Region has significantly impacted the residents. While we have daily listened to the news of earth tremors and new cracks appearing, as of January 1st, the tremors have increased from up to 3 daily to 15. The government has formed a response team in Awash town but as of today, the population needs to be moved with speed, the government having selected where, since the dam supporting the sugar factory in Sabore is at imminent risk of breaking, flooding a vast populated area.
This incident started as early as September 27th and has continued. There are now several earth fissures, some just cracks, others dispelling apparently dangerous gases, steam and there have been a couple of new crater lakes forming. The dam now causing such a concern is part of the Awash River complex and other than flooding the area, there is fear that the water may contaminate with volcanic chemicals causing the entire Awash river system to become poisonous.
The affected area are within 35 kilometres of Awash town on the asphalt road to Addis, this road apparently now split at Mattahara, just below the Awash National Park.
People in danger are both farmers and pastoralists, the government requiring to move them around 30 kilometres north into Ami Bara. APDA is about to place an emergency officer in Awash town.
There are some highly vulnerable people who cannot now return to their land as the water will be undrinkable; land will not grow grass as a result of the gases and ash. These people need to very quickly establish a livelihood where they are moved to. We will start this assessment in the next few days.
Please give whatever you can to get our families to safety.
Critical gaps in food, shelter, health services and water, sanitation and hygiene remain, while urgent action is needed to reach people in inaccessible locations.
Your urgent support can aid in our rapid response efforts.
Please give whatever you can to show our families
they are not alone.
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