Parliament Declares National Mourning for Landslide Victims in Gofa Zone

Jul 28 , 2024


[ssba-buttons]

Parliament has declared a three-day national mourning period to honour the memory of hundreds who lost their lives in a catastrophic landslide in Gofa Zone, Southern Ethiopia Regional State. The tragedy, which struck on July 24, 2024, was the result of intense rain showers in the Gezi Gofa wereda, claiming nearly 257 lives, according to aid agencies. The Ethiopian Red Cross Society, alongside volunteers and emergency workers, continues their search and rescue efforts two days after the disaster. Armed with shovels and their bare hands, they are arduously digging through mud in a desperate attempt to locate survivors. A report from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) has warned that the death toll may rise, potentially reaching up to 500. The landslide has displaced over 125 residents, and a dozen severely injured individuals have been transferred to Sawla Hospital for urgent medical care. The humanitarian situation in the region remains critical. The UNOCHA report unveils the vulnerability of 1,320 children under five years of age and nearly 5,293 women, who are at high risk due to the ongoing threat of further landslides. This disaster struck just three weeks after the Ethiopian Meteorological Institute issued a warning about the likelihood of heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides affecting Addis Abeba and several regions in the west, north, centre, and northeast of the country.


Radar

State-Owned Enterprises Deliver, But Fund Seeks More from Underperformers

Ethiopian Investment Holdings (EIH), the country's sovereign wealth fund, closed its annual performance review with a mix of strong gains and lingering concerns across its portfolio of state-owned enterprises. Ethiopian Shipping & Logistics led the year with 4.5 million tons of cargo, driving revenues up 90pc and doubling pre-tax profit. Sugar production from Wonji Shoa, Metehara, and Fincha climbed 34.8pc to 163,290 tons, nearly doubling revenues to 15.6 billion Br, though EIH flagged ch...


Radar

MIDROC Cocoa Drive, Local Production Focus on Value Addition

MIDROC Investment Group is placing a bold wager on cocoa in the lowlands of Sheka. Building on extensive trials at the Bebeka Coffee State Farm, the company has introduced globally prized Forastero, Trinitario, and Criollo varieties alongside coffee. "The results are astonishing," said General Manager Beshada Worku, pointing to international prices that range from 8,200 to 14,000 dollars a ton. The project's first phase covers 50 hectares, with 44,000 seedlings already planted. Expansion to ...


Radar

Bureau Maps Out 1,700 Land Rights in a Month

The Rights Registration & Holding Service Directorate under the Bureau of Land Development & Administration prepared over 1,700 landholding certification maps in a single month. The update came during the bureau's July performance review, which measured progress against the upcoming fiscal year's targets. Director Tesfamichael Endale said efforts are being scaled up to give farmers secure land rights and quicker certification. Deputy Head WendwossenBanjaw added that the priority ahead...