|
Solidarity with the Flood
Victims
Editorial
Ethiopian Observer
The
recent floods in
Ethiopia
, devastating the town of
Diredawa
and its vicinity as well as the villages swept away by the
O
mo
River
are a national disaster, preoccupying not only Ethiopians but also
the whole world. Amid landscapes of destruction and debris and the
death toll claimed by the deluge, there are thousands of our
countrymen displaced and distressed without any possession
remaining in their hands. Terrible natural catastrophic phenomenon
such as this with extreme flooding has not been observed for many
years. Due to the way houses are constructed in the villages and
the extent to how the banks of the rivers burst, have taken the
people unawares.
Quick
rescue operations have been taken and are still being taken by the
government deploying the country’s armed forces and teams so
that emergency actions such as airlifting the stranded, providing
food and temporary shelters, water, etc. The US troops assistance
in the joined actions and efforts of immediate needs, the pledge
by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to donate aid for those in
extreme conditions, the international communities’ response to
send necessities and the urgent support by individuals and civic
organizations in Ethiopia should be greatly acknowledged and
appreciated. However, there is a great task remaining for the
families, who have to still to pick up the pieces of their
tarnished lives, build their houses that are in tatters and
rehabilitate themselves so that they are back to normal
activities.
Ethiopians
especially those, who reside abroad instead of bickering on issues
that are irrelevant at this moment, should focus their solidarity
with our people, suffering at this very moment from natural
calamity of the highest degree, knowing the incalculable loss of
people, wealth and properties. Our solidarity must go hand in hand
with what we believe to stand for and our sympathy has to be
demonstrated through real actions of generosity and benevolence.
Let’s join hands with those have lost a lot but need little
yearning of support from us.
|
