Faculty of Civil Engineering

Natural Hazard and Risk in Structural Engineering

Project and Disaster Management

National Disaster Management organization

in Ethiopia

Submitted to - Prof. Dr.-Ing. Hans-Joachim Bargstdt

Prepared by - Habtemariam Abinet

November 24, 2013

Weimar

Bauhaus-University Weimar

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Table of Contents

Introduction ..............................................................................................................3

1. Organization base in Ethiopia for disaster prevention and rescue .....................3

2. Definition of disaster according to Ethiopian law ..............................................5

3. Priorities defined for rescue operation in case of disaster ..................................6

4. Major disasters in Ethiopia ...............................................................................6

5. Post disaster activities and reinstallation operation ...........................................8

6. Responsible organizations for rescue in small scale and large impact disasters .8

7. References .........................................................................................................8

2

List of figures

Figure 1 - Organizational Structure of Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and

Management under ministry of Agriculture ........................................................................ 5

Figure 2 - Natural Disaster Occurrence Reported (1980-2008) ........................................ 7

Figure 3 - Top 10 Disasters in Ethiopia (1999-2009) ........................................................ 7

Acronyms

DRM Disaster Risk Management

DRMC Disaster Risk Management Council

DRMCO Disaster Risk Management Coordination Office

DRMU Disaster Risk Management Unit

FDRMC Federal Disaster Risk Management Council

FDRMCO Federal Disaster Risk Management Coordination Office

FDRMU Federal Disaster Risk Management Unit

HIV/AIDS Human Immunosuppressive Virus/Acquired Immune

efficiency Syndrome

NDPPC National Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Committee

RDRMC Regional Disaster Risk Management Council

RDRMCO Regional Disaster Risk Management Coordination Office

RDRMU Regional Disaster Risk Management Unit

Z/WDRMC Zonal/woreda Disaster Risk Management Councils

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Introduction

Ethiopia is one of the oldest nations on earth with a multi-ethnic population and rich

history and a country with great agriculture potential; vast areas of fertile land; diverse

climatic seasons; significant water resources; and a large agricultural labor pool. Despite

its promising attributes however, the country remains highly vulnerable to a wide range

of calamities. Over last years, the frequency and level of natural disasters caused by the

unfavorable effects of climate change has greatly increased. Because of this enhanced

disaster risk management capacity for improving resilience towards natural and man-

made disasters and minimizing impacts on live and a livelihood in Ethiopia is important.

1. Organization base in Ethiopia for disaster prevention and

rescue

Disaster risk management in Ethiopia is everyones responsibility: government,

communities, private sector, civil society, and development and humanitarian institutions.

Ethiopian disaster management policy spells out a clear organizational structure at all

administrative levels and sectors to ensure its proper implementation with clear

delineation of tasks and responsibilities.

Disaster risk management (DRM) responsibilities are distributed over three core

structures at federal and regional levels:

The Federal Disaster Risk Management Council (FDRMC) It is the highest policy and

oversight body for DRM. It is responsible for approving general rules for operating,

financing, and releasing funds, can declare national level disaster and mobilize domestic

and foreign resources for DRM functions.

Federal Disaster Risk Management Coordination Office (FDRMCO) is a coordinating

and regulatory body at federal level for DRM-related matters that will be accountable to

the Office of the Prime Minister.

Federal Disaster Risk Management Units (FDRMUs) Relevant federal line department

maintain and manage disaster risk management units and play the lead role and

coordinate all stakeholders to work together on all stages of disaster risk management in

their sector and others have focal body responsible for the management of all disaster risk

management activities within their sector.

The following institutions at the Federal level have disaster risk management units

(DRMU) and play the lead role in their sector:

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development: all crop production,

livestock, and forest fire, food, and food security related hazards.

Ministry of National Defense: search and rescue in times of war and other

emergences as required.

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Ministry of Federal Affairs; conflict related hazards.

Ministry of Mines and Energy: seismic activity (earthquake and volcanic

activities), landslides, dam failure, etc., related hazards.

Ministry of Health: human health including HIV/AIDS and malnutrition

related hazards.

Ministry of Transport and Communications: transport accident especially

road and communications network damage.

Ministry of Water Resources: climate change especially flood, drought, water

supply, sanitation and hygiene related hazards.

Ministry of Works and Urban Development: urban infrastructure

development and urban fire related hazards.

Environmental Protection Authority: environment and radioactive pollution

related hazards.

All FDRMUs and focal bodies report directly to the Minister or Head of Agency and

perform the following duties and responsibilities in common. Each will:

Coordinate all sectorial DRM activities and ensure the integration of Disaster

Risk Management into the regular duties and responsibilities of their institutions

and other relevant stakeholders involved in their areas of responsibilities.

Develop and implement sectoral strategies and plans for DRM and coordinate

their implementation within their institution and with partners.

Establish a sectoral early warning system and disseminate early warning

information to regional DRMUs, regional DRMCOs, sectors partners, the

FDRMCO, and the general public.

Play a leading role in emergency responses in collaboration with other relevant

stakeholders in their areas of responsibility.

Conduct damage assessments after the event of a disaster and maintain proper

records.

Test through simulations the disaster response contingency plans for their

sectors.

Beside the Federal Disaster Risk Management Units (FDRMUs) there are also

Regional Disaster Risk Management Units (RDRMUs) (The federal structures

and responsibilities will be replicated/adapted, with the inclusion of the

participation of municipalities and fire brigades.)

Zonala Disaster Risk Management Coordination Offices(ZDRMCOs) The

regional structures and responsibilities mentioned above will be

replicated/adapted

Woreda/Kebele/Farmers Kebele Administration Disaster Risk Management

Coordination Offices /WDRMCOs)

*All the responsibilities of FDRMC, FDRMCO and FDRMU are listed on the national

policy and strategy on disaster risk management (March 2009).

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Figure 1 - Organizational Structure of Disaster Prevention, Preparedness and

Management under ministry of Agriculture

Source: Disaster Risk Management and Food Security Sector, http://www.dppc.gov.et/

2. Definition of disaster according to Ethiopian law

According to the national policy and strategy on disaster risk management of Federal

Democratic Republic of Ethiopia,

A disaster is the occurrence of an abnormal event triggered by a hazard(s) that impacts a

given entity (including a vulnerable community, geographical area, infrastructure or a

group of people in significant numbers gathered in one place) causing damage and/or

casualties, leaving the affected entity unable to function normally, eroding survival

mechanism and forcing it to seek outside assistance for survival.

Hazard is a potentially damaging physical event, phenomenon, and/or human activity

that may cause the loss of life or injury, property damage, social and economic

disruption, or environmental degradation.

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3. Priorities defined for rescue operation in case of disaster

According to the national policy and strategy on disaster risk management of Ethiopia the

DRMU has the power to decide on priorities during rescue operations. Other than that

there are no clear priorities defined for the rescue operations in case of disaster. But in

general the primary objectives of most rescue operations are to save lives in times of

crisis.

4. Major disasters in Ethiopia

Disasters triggered by various types of hazards are not uncommon in Ethiopia. The

impacts of disasters on the lives of people and on the countrys social, economic, and

political development have been significant. Disasters impose serious impediments to

development, destroy years of effort, squander vast resource investments, and perpetuate

poverty. They damage infrastructure and the natural environment, impoverish

communities, and divert national priorities and development resources to emergency

management operations.

A wide range of natural and human-induced hazards are associated with the countrys

diverse geo-climatic and socioeconomic conditions. Disasters arising from some of the

hazards have caused widespread damage and loss, while others remain potential threats.

Natural hazards in Ethiopia include, among others, drought, flood, human and

livestock diseases, crop pests, and seismic and volcanic activities. Historically,

severe droughts and famines have been particularly important causes of loss of

lives and livelihoods and of political instability.

Human-induced hazards include, among others, conflicts as a result of resource

computation and other factors, war, transport accident, fire and other factors.

These hazards are assuming greater importance over time.

The vulnerability of the country is aggravated by poor agricultural and livestock

practices, a fragile and degraded natural environment, extensive poverty, limited

transport and communication infrastructure, uneven settlement patterns, inefficient

markets, variable and changing climatic conditions, high population growth, lack of good

governance, competition over scarce resources and border issues. The frequency,

severity, and impact of some hazards are likely to increase in the future, especially due to

climate change and other exogenous factors.

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Frequency of Natural hazards in Ethiopia

Figure 2 - Natural Disaster Occurrence Reported (1980-2008)

Figure 3 - Top 10 Disasters in Ethiopia (1999-2009)

Source: EM-DAT: The OFDA /CRED International Disaster Database, Universit

catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.

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5. Post disaster activities and reinstallation operation

The DRMUs is responsible in developing a strategy and comprehensive plan for early

recovery and rehabilitation following the declaration of disaster in their areas of

responsibility and implement the plan accordingly.

6. Responsible organizations for rescue in small scale and large

impact disasters

In general in the case of regional disasters such as explosion of a power plant in which 40

peoples are injured the responsible head of disaster management will be Regional

Disaster Risk Management Units (RDRMUs) (with the inclusion of the participation of

municipalities and fire brigades.) under the Ministry of Works and Urban Development

as mention on the first topic.

For large scale impact such as flooding which involves large number of peoples the

responsible organization for rescue will be Federal Disaster Risk Management Units

(FDRMUs) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. The requirement

of military assistant for rescue operation will be decided by the FDRMU.

7. References

Transitional Government of Ethiopia, 1993, National Policy on Disaster Prevention and

Management

Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery GFDRR Secretariat, 2009, Disaster

Risk Management Programs for Priority Countries, Washington, DC 20433, USA

Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission ,1998, Five Year Plan of the Federal

Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission, unpublished government document,

(1998-2002). Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, 2009, National Policy and Strategy on Disaster

Risk Management (draft document)

Dechassa Lemessa, UN-Emergencies Unit for Ethiopia & Matthew Perault, 2001, Forest

fires in Ethiopia: Reflections on socio-economic and environmental effects of the fires in

2000, Brown University, Providence, USA