A storm in Ethiopia’s Tigray region has damaged 143 hectares of cultivated land, wiping out standing crops entirely.
Gebrekiristos Aregawi, Chief Administrator of Degua Tembien Woreda, said the storm left 284 farming households in distress and called on governmental and non-governmental organisations to mobilise additional assistance.
“The loss of crops has placed both their families and livestock in grave danger,” Aregawi said in a briefing to local media.
In another development, flooding, hail, and landslides during the rainy season have also caused widespread destruction in the country’s Amhara region. In Meket Woreda of North Wollo Zone alone, the Agriculture Office reported the loss of 6,000 hectares of farmland, affecting more than 45,000 families.
Sisay Chane, a farmer from Qimqim locality told local media that crops, grazing land, and animal feed were completely destroyed. “Everything is gone. Our cattle have nothing to eat, and we are in agony,” said Chane, noting that his beans, teff, wheat, and sorghum were destroyed.
“Many people are leaving the area and migrating elsewhere due to the damage,” Solomon Wonde, Head of the Meket DistrictAgriculture Office, confirmed the scale of the destruction, stating that no aid has reached the affected families so far.
Desta Legesse, Disaster Monitoring and Crop Development Expert at the North Wollo Zone Disaster Prevention and Food Security Office, added that heavy rain, landslides, and strong winds caused damage across several districts.
She reported that in Bugna and Waldia districts, strong winds destroyed the roofs of 20 homes, while in Bugna, Gubalafto, and Wadla woredas, lightning killed 73 animals and destroyed 11 beehives.
MG/as/APA