Displacement continues from the epicenter of the earthquake in Ethiopia

Awash Fental, Afar Region, Ethiopia —

The semi-desert plain between two mountains and a den has been, for about five months, the center of volcanic activity in the Afar region of Ethiopia.

From a distance it looks quiet and peaceful. However, as you approach, you will encounter splits due to strong ground vibrations that occur two to three times every week. Smoke rises from a deep underground hole. Nearby holes spew hot mud and water. The water smells like sulfuric acid from a kilometer away.

Locals call it “Seganto”, which also means the name of the plant that usually grows in this small area between the Dovan and Ventali mountains, located in the Afar region of Ethiopia. Both mountains have volcanic activity and small lakes on their summits. Mount Vental is distinctive, with smoke billowing from the top.

Nearly two weeks ago, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck the area. Residents felt the vibrations caused by the earthquake in neighboring towns such as Awash Sebat Kilo and Awash Arba, about 220 kilometers from the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

Highway crack in Afar, Ethiopia.

Many of them have been displaced so far, and Adu Ali, a resident of Awash Vintal and mother of four, said it was time to leave.

“We heard a loud noise from the ground, it sounded like a gun salute,” she said. “Our animals were in shock. We were praying that they would get out safely.”

It was the same story for Hassan Kamel, a Siganto resident who was particularly concerned about the potential for a larger eruption.

He said: “Mount Dauphin is the one behind me, and Vental is the one in front of me. The fault that developed after the earthquake is now moving from Dauphin to Mount Vental.” “The holes through which the explosion could be seen were few, and now there are more than 10 holes in this place in Siganto Kebele alone.”

Another resident of Awash Ventali; Ahmed Heisis said that his house was destroyed by volcanic explosions.

“To this day, the vibrations are still destroying homes and creating cracks,” he said.

Hisis said he does not feel safe because the shaking is constant.

Evictions

The explosions in December displaced an estimated 10,000 community members living in Siganto. Today, Siganto remains empty. Hassan Kamel Conte, a community elder, has fled and is now living in a nearby shelter while the community relocates residents.

The earthquake activity has destroyed most of the local infrastructure. Musa Adam, deputy head of the Afar National Regional Government Education Office, said the shock that followed the ground shaking destroyed 37 schools and forced 5,000 students to leave their classrooms. The local administration said that a state-run sugar factory with more than 4,000 employees had stopped working as local residents fled the area.

Last week, the Ethiopian federal government announced plans to evacuate at least 80,000 residents from the sites of active volcano sites in Afar and nearby localities in the Oromia and Amhara regions.

Officials say the majority of targeted residents in the worst-hit Afar region have left active volcanic sites.

Musa told Voice of America: “We have been able to evacuate at least 54,000 people so far, and our goal is to transport victims from active volcanic sites, and we are succeeding.”

Human needs

Residents are now entering local displacement centers in the nearby town of Awash Arba and awaiting assistance from the state and humanitarian agencies.

Despite living in the shelter for more than a week, some say they are still not getting their basic needs met. Among them is Fakir Muhammad.

He told Voice of America: “The situation is difficult, as you can see. Many people have not received shelter, and there is insufficient drinking water.” He said that the government is trying to provide resources, but the number of people in need exceeds the available resources.

Bali Hassan, a mother of three, said she was happy to escape the active earthquake site, but since the shelter is unable to protect her children from the sun, the situation in the camp remains a challenge.

Officials are trying to meet the needs

Musa, the regional official in Afar, said that the state is trying to meet the needs of people in shelters.

“The Ethiopian Disaster and Risk Management Committee, along with other humanitarian NGOs, are providing assistance. New arrivals may not be able to access food on the day of their arrival as they have to go through a registration process, but we have not faced human deaths due to hunger,” Musa said. .

Those displaced by the earthquake said they still do not feel safe because they are not far from the center of the active volcano. Some of the newly built shelters for displaced people are located just 10 kilometers from the epicenter of the latest explosion.

A boy walks past food rations in Afar, Ethiopia.

But the government said the displaced were being moved to safer areas after a rigorous review by experts from Samara University.

The Ethiopian Disaster and Risk Management Commission said it is working to provide assistance to communities affected by the recent active earthquake. According to a statement from UNHCR, more than $2.2 million (280 million birr) in food and non-food items were sent to crisis sites in the Afar and Oromia and Amhara regions to reach those in need.

This story originated with the Voice of America's Horn of Africa service.

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