Floods in Ethiopia

One hundred people have lost their lives, 50,000 cattle are dead and some 105,000 have been left homeless following serious flooding in Ogaden, in the east of Ethiopia. The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, who released these figures on 03 May 2005, fears that these may be an underestimate, due to the numbers of people that are still being reported missing ten days after the flooding began caused by the rising levels of the Wabe Shebelle River. UNO has also reported that there are difficulties reaching the affected areas. The floods started after two days of torrential rains which started on 23 April 2005. The affected areas are located 700 km east of the capital, Addis Abeba. Land, homes, wells and roads have also been seriously damaged.