Disasters in Ethiopia

Ethiopia has a formal Disaster Risk Management (DRM) system, but implementation differs between regions and woredas. A woreda is a local administrative area. The EDRMC manages national policy and strategy, monitoring, forecasts, warnings, situation assessment, possible formal disaster declarations, financial and logistical support, emergency and recovery assistance, and coordination with regional disaster-risk management commissions, sector ministries, the Ethiopian Red Cross Society, United Nations agencies and non-governmental organizations. The National Incident Management System supports coordination between authorities during response operations. Drought and water stress are especially relevant in Somali, Tigray and Afar. Flooding affects lowland areas, highland flash-flood zones, urban streams and the Awash, Blue Nile and Shebelle river areas. Landslides occur particularly in Amhara, Tigray, Oromia and the Southern Nations area. The Rift Valley and Afar have greater volcanic exposure. Earthquakes, storms, extreme heat, frost, forest and urban fires, desert locusts and epidemics can also create disaster conditions. A World Bank risk model based on 2010 data estimated about 1.5 million people affected by drought and about 250,000 by floods each year, with around 200 education and health facilities exposed. It also estimated about 1,000 people exposed to landslides, 45,000 to earthquakes and about 500,000 potentially exposed to ashfall from the Corbetti volcano. These figures describe the model's historical reference basis and are not current population counts. The Ethiopian Meteorological Institute (EMI) publishes weather warnings, Common Alerting Protocol and RSS feeds, weather and hydrometeorological bulletins, and seasonal information in five languages. The EDRMC publishes early-warning and response alerts, bulletins and woreda disaster-risk profiles. Examples listed in 2026 include Flood Alert No. 1 for Belg, Flood Alert No. 2 for Kiremt, a National Landslide Alert for March to September and a Moisture Stress Early Warning Alert for Kiremt. Alert status changes, so people should check the current EMI and EDRMC notices and local administrative announcements. Preparedness measures include applying multi-hazard contingency plans, using the Flood Anticipatory Action Framework, checking risk maps, clearing drainage, maintaining dams, dikes and embankments, and positioning food, non-food items and water, sanitation and hygiene supplies before access deteriorates. Households and local services may also need to protect livestock, seed stocks and other livelihoods. Temporary shelters should be assessed for elevation, access, roads, water supply and distance from danger zones. Local radio, posters and community meetings are used for public awareness. During a warning, follow EMI, EDRMC and local administrative instructions. Do not cross fast-flowing water on foot or by vehicle. Move vulnerable people and livestock to safe higher ground when directed by local authorities, and use an instructed temporary shelter or safe area. Flood task forces, the Ministry of Water and Energy, and regional, zonal and woreda water offices monitor rivers, dams and lakes. Search-and-rescue work and aid transport can become difficult when roads, bridges or communication systems are damaged. Evacuation arrangements exist mainly through regional and woreda authorities and can be triggered before conditions become critical. Ethiopia does not have a single publicly confirmed national evacuation map, evacuation system or emergency telephone number in the reviewed sources. Check the responsible local administration and current EDRMC channels for instructions instead of relying on an old map or an unverified number. Assistance follows a situation assessment and depends on national relevance, local capacity and whether the emergency exceeds available resources. The EDRMC can mobilize national or international support. Possible mechanisms include the Productive Safety Net Programme Shock Responsive Safety Net, the Livelihoods, Early Assessment and Protection programme, and strategic food and non-food reserves. Assistance may prioritize vulnerable households, internally displaced people, refugees, older people, women, children and people with disabilities. The available evidence does not establish an automatic individual entitlement or one uniform national payment. Proclamation No. 1386/2025 places duties on the state to prevent disasters and provide prompt support to affected people, and it embeds emergency declarations, rehabilitation and reconstruction in the legal framework. In practice, people are expected to follow warnings, comply with evacuation instructions and avoid dangerous water crossings. Public alerts and EDRMC notices are generally available without a stated access fee, while specialized EMI data may follow a fee schedule. Assistance costs, eligibility, duration and payment timing depend on the region and the assessed situation. Recovery can include rehabilitation and reconstruction, water, sanitation and hygiene, shelter and non-food items, agriculture and livestock support, roads, drainage, water facilities, schools and health facilities. Priorities depend on assessment, available resources and access. Flooded or remote areas and damaged roads increase delays. Early warning, functioning drainage, dams, embankments, roads, bridges, water points, schools, health facilities and communication links are therefore closely connected to the success of both immediate response and recovery.