Ethiopian floods toll tops 60

2006-10-31 15:27

Addis Ababa - Four days of devastating floods along Ethiopia's desolate eastern border have killed more than 60 people, and prowling crocodiles have been hampering rescue efforts as rain continues to fall, say officials.

The floods began on Friday after Shebelle River overflowed its banks in the Ogaden region, more than 1 000km from the capital, Addis Ababa. Rain was expected to continue through the week.

In August, flooding across the country killed more than 600 people and displaced about 50 000.

Muktar Mohammed, flood co-ordinator for the government-run Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Bureau, said: "Sixty-seven people have died since the worst flooding hit on Friday, and the crocodiles in the area are eating some of the bodies.

77m people 'live on less than $1 a day'

He said that four survivors had been injured in crocodile attacks. Muktar said: "We need helicopters, boats and food and medical supplies urgently."

Ethiopia was one of the poorest countries in the world, with more than half of its 77 million people living on less than $1 a day.

The Ogaden region, along the border with Somalia, was the centre of a long-running conflict between the Ethiopian government and ethnic Somalis who wanted to establish an independent state there.

Muktar also said that more than 1 000 hectares of crops were washed away in the floods, along with thousands of cattle, camels, donkeys and other livestock.

Officials said aid groups were sending food and other help to the region.

- AP