Ethiopia: Council Calls On Public to Take Advantage of Rain Water, Minimize Flood Risk

farmers

The High Basin Council urges stakeholders to stay vigilant to make use of each drop of rain water and minimize risks of sudden flood that have already occurred in some parts of the country.

Co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Council Chairperson Demeke Mekonnen in its emergency meeting yesterday, the Council discussed major weather phenomenona and ways of withstanding possible natural disasters.

On the passion, Water, Irrigation and Electricity Minister Motumma Mekassa has stressed the need for strengthening early warning mechanisms and massive preparation to cope with the increasing phenomena of floods.

The Minister said that there is a need for stepping up and speeding up preparation to respond to any possible natural disaster and boost agricultural productivity. Promoting watershed management activities and soil conservation works should be carried out ahead of the summer season, he noted.

The Ethiopian Meteorological Agency Director General Fetene Teshome on his part said that more regular rainfall is forecast in the coming summer season as the El Nino phenomena that caused drought leaves for the La-Nina which results heavy rain .

According to the Director , the weather forecast in the coming months is expected to be 40 percent of regular and 40 percent of La-Nina and 10 per cent El Nino weather condition. Fetene called on all stakeholders to make use of the more likely wet season for socioeconomic development.

Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mokonnen on his part said: " We need to throw our full weight to utilize each drop of rain water while preparing a wide range of response mechanism to ward off unprecedented flood.

The deputy premier called for urgent preparation to utilize the rainfall water to resist the impacts of El Nino that caused droughts in some places. Similarly, utmost efforts should be employed to prevent possible flood burdens, he noted.

Demeke also urges the National Disaster and Risk Management Commission to continue providing early warning information to alert people ahead of any natural disaster.