Flooding in Ethiopia threatens sugar factories

Aug 29, 2006 (ADDIS ABABA) — A central Ethiopian river that overflowed after heavy rains is threatening the Horn of Africa country’s three sugar factories, state-run Ethiopian Television has reported.

The report late on Monday said efforts to control the flood water from destroying the Methara, Wonji and Sugar factories, located along the Awash river, were under way.

The flooding has already destroyed crops at a flower farm that ships to European markets as part of one of Ethiopia’s burgeoning export campaigns.

“Floods from the overflowing Awash river swamped a nearby flower farm after it broke its banks on Sunday,” the broadcast said. “The flowers, which were ready for export, were estimated to be worth $6 million.”

The report said over 23,000 pastoralists who tend their cattle on the banks of the river have been encircled after all escape routes were submerged by the flood. Rescue efforts were under way.

No human deaths were reported, but hundreds of domestic animals have been swept away by the flooding.

Flooding across Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia and Sudan had already killed almost 1,000 people — some from disease carried by the water — and displaced about 120,000.

Ethiopia, the worst-hit, is seeking $27 million in aid to help about 200,000 people affected by the flooding.

(Reuters)