Heavy rains cause local and regional flooding

The Ministry of Water and Natural Resources Development has said that during the current rainy season the major rivers in Ethiopia are experiencing some of the highest water levels on record. The head of the hydrology department, Kidane Aseta, said that the water level of major rivers and water reservoirs was rising as a result of the increased rainfall in many parts of the country, the pro-Ethiopian government Walta Information Centre web site said on Monday. He said the western part of Ethiopia had been significantly affected by the increased rainfall, and was experiencing “possible flood problems”. He said rains were also increasing in eastern Ethiopia, including areas within the Rift Valley. “The rains will continue up to 20 September... It is too early to say that there won’t be any more floods.” Kidane called on the public to take “precautionary measures” to cope with “possible flood problems”. There have been recent reports of heavy flooding affecting thousands in the Gambela region, southwestern Ethiopia. Humanitarian sources told IRIN that the heavy rains in Ethiopia were linked to the problems of flooding in Sudan, around Khartoum, the confluence of the Nile waters. With the Blue Nile catchments in the Ethiopian highlands, there was “a need for early warning systems and regional cooperation” regarding rainfall and flood potential, the source said. Similarly, heavy rains in eastern Ethiopia are relevant to potential flooding in Somalia, through the Juba and Shebelle rivers. A project formulated earlier this year by UNDP to establish a pilot flood early warning system has yet to attract donor funding, the source said.