The Effects of Flooding on Rural People and Their Response Strategies: The Case of Jor District, Gambella Regional State, Ethiopia
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Date
2021-10
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Addis ababa university
Abstract
Flooding is the most destructive type of natural disaster that strikes humans and their livelihoods system around the world (UN, 2012). However, it was believed that the flooding response‟s readiness and capacity among the affected communities, societies and countries has determined the level of flooding effects across the globe. In such a way, the level of flooding effects is depend on the level of economic capacity and skills required for effective response toward flooding hazards. It is, therefore, necessary to investigate the low socio- economic status of a given flood victim population in response to flooding hazard. As a result, this study was conducted with the objective of examining the effects of flooding on rural people and response strategies employed among the community living in the flood-prone areas of Jor district, Gambella Regional State, South western Ethiopia. In this regard, a cross- sectional survey design and mixed approach have been employed in order to address specific objectives. Due to the nature of flood vulnerability, 6 Kebeles were selected purposefully out of 15 kebeles with the sample sizes of 250 were selected randomly. In addition to households‟ survey, Key informant interviews, Focus group discussion (FGDs), Life histories, and observation instruments were also employed. The findings revealed that majority of the population lacks educational training and the necessary skillful (97%) as they are unskilled farmers and practice backward agricultural system with limited crop diversification mechanism. Besides, the findings also indicate that residing or settling in a flood prone area (68.8%) and lack of capacity for resiliency (58.4) were found out as the major underlying causes for community‟s vulnerability to flood hazard which brought significant effects on crop production (56%), livestock rearing (48%), housing permanency (56%) with over 7,000 people displaced, and in the social services delivery (76.4%). Moreover, the results with regard to community‟s coping mechanism substantiated that, relying on fishing, collection of wild plants, building muddy dykes, strengthening social networks and emergency support from external sources have been used as coping mechanisms. Furthermore, interviews made with heads concerned institutions have verified that lack of preparedness and prevention plans prior to flooding hazard; insignificant collaboration between the government and humanitarian organizations; and inconsistent supportive schemes from humanitarian organizations operating in the study area were the major obstacles to lessen the burden of victims. Thus, it can be suggested that, there is a need to devices both non-structural and structural mitigation measures
Key words: Ethiopia, Flood, Hazard, Vulnerability, Jor district, Flood effects, and Response strategies
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Keywords
Ethiopia, Flood, Hazard, Vulnerability, Jor district, Flood effects, and Response strategies