From Emotional Scar of the Horrific Landslide to Hope- the Community of Kencho Shacha Gozdi Village
On July 21 and 22, 2024, the mountainous highland of Kencho Shacha Gozdi village in Gofa Zone of the South Ethiopia region was hit by a tragic landslide that killed 249 people, including those who came to the area to pull out those who got trapped in the mud.
Meskerem Konosha, a 24-year-old woman, is among those severely affected by the landslide. She is married and a mother of two children, who are six and two years old. She lost her relatives, neighbors and friends -including her mother-in-law and two nieces.
Following the horrific landslide, the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS), with the support of 3.5 million Swiss Francs (CHF) from the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), German Red Cross, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Coca-Cola Foundation, and other national sister societies, has built a residential village by implementing a project named “Ethiopian Landslide and Flood Appeal” in Geze Gofa Woreda, Burda Kebele.
The community that survived the disaster, including Meskerem, lived in fear of uncertainty, worrying about their future. However, the Ethiopian Red Cross Society has fulfilled their dreams by building 296 shelters and improving the lives of the affected and vulnerable communities.
“The support of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society is like a father and mother to me,” said Meskerem, expressing that ERCS has stood by the communities’ side since the disaster occurred.
The shelters built by the Ethiopian Red Cross Society, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and other partners have benefited not only Meskerem. Kassech Beyene, a mother of 5 children, is also a beneficiary. She lost her husband in the landslide. But she looks strong enough to rebuild her life, hoping for a more stable future.
“Thank you for your support in helping me enter this shelter. My anxiety, caused by thinking about my husband, has been reduced,” said Ksssech, extending her gratitude to the Ethiopian Red Cross Society from the bottom of her heart.
According to Daniel Abdulaziz, Senior Officer of the Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (PMER) at IFRC, the project is successful since they have observed that the community has been lifted out of a state of despair and grief and improved their lives with the financial assistance they received.
Livelihood and Psychosocial Support
The Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS), in collaboration with the Health Centre of Kencho Shecha Gozde Kebele, has provided psychosocial support to help the community rebuild their lives, overcome challenges and become productive. Today, a glimpse of hope is visible on the faces of the community.
Ato Chernet Simon, head of the Kencho Shecha Gozde Kebele Health Centre in Gofa Geze Woreda, said that the task of lifting the community out of depression was daunting, expressing that ERCS trained 20 volunteers and enabled them to work together with the health center, making the task easier. Besides, the society has enabled the “affected community to get out of depression through monthly financial assistance,” he noted.
All 627 of the affected and vulnerable communities have not been left alone with their financial difficulties. They are provided with improved seed, fertilizers and 6,900 (34,500) Birr of cash support for five rounds. The multipurpose cash support has enabled them to improve their livelihoods and be resilient.
“The Ethiopian Red Cross Society has provided us with cash support as well as cooking kits, jerricans, and water jugs starting from the temporary shelter,” said Meskerem, expressing that they have received a Birr of 6,900 (34,500 in sum) for five rounds. “They have also provided us with improved seeds of corn along with Urea and DAP fertilizers. We have sown and benefited from it,” she added.
Ato Tsegaye, coordinator of the Ethiopian Landslide and Flood Appeal project at ERCS, pointed out that the project provided support to the affected communities who lost their relatives in the disaster and other vulnerable communities. He also said that they provided improved seeds (maize and soybeans) for all 627 households who fulfilled the requirements.
Ato Dagmawi Ayele, Chief Administrator of Gofa Zone in the Southern Ethiopian Region, said on his part that the Ethiopian Red Cross Society has been providing a lot of support to the community since the disaster occurred, adding, “the type of support is not like the support provided by most of other people; instead, ERCS has provided the right support that is necessary for the people.”
The Ethiopian Red Cross Society, in collaboration with partner organizations, has not only relocated the community to a better and more livable location but also delivered non-food items and improved sanitation in the area by constructing water facilities and latrines.
“The Ethiopian Red Cross Society has developed a project and built water facilities, which are benefiting the community there, and are adequate for both the current and future generations,” said Eng. Dagmawi added that it has transformed the lives of the community by implementing livelihood support.
Volunteers Role
Volunteers are the backbone of the Red Cross societies across the world in providing a listening ear, caregiving and offering comfort to the affected communities during and after disaster.
Mekedes Girma is one of the 20 trained volunteers of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society, helping the affected communities in the area. She said that her mother was a volunteer for the Ethiopian Red Cross Society when she was pregnant with her, expressing that she is happy to have grown up and become a volunteer for the society.
Mekedes, who expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Ethiopian Red Cross Society for being on the side of the community to support and encourage them since the disaster occurred. “The Red Cross is like my mother and father to me; it is more than they are,” she said.