Appeal For Emergency Food Assistance!
Emergency Food Assistance and Medical Care for Children Affected by Flood and Landslide Disasters in Gamo Zone, Southern Ethiopia
On March 10, 2026, the Gamo Zone in Southern Ethiopia experienced a catastrophic humanitarian emergency. Following days of intense rainfall, a series of devastating landslides and flash floods struck the region, resulting in one of the most severe localized disasters in recent Ethiopian history. The tragedy unfolded in a dramatic and deeply painful sequence: an initial landslide in Mazo Doysa Kebele prompted local residents to rush to rescue their neighbors, only to be engulfed by a second, much larger landslide. This act of communal solidarity, which cost so many lives, stands as both a testament to the human spirit and a stark reminder of the scale of the tragedy.
The official toll is staggering: 125 confirmed deaths, 59 individuals still missing, 10,606 people displaced, and over 1,100 homes completely destroyed. Entire families were buried, children were orphaned, and primary breadwinners many of them young members of the community were lost. The disaster extended beyond the highlands as the Kulfo and Sego Rivers overflowed, flooding parts of Arba Minch City, destroying infrastructure, and cutting off vital supply routes. In the immediate aftermath, Spiritan missionaries, through the Spiritan Community Outreach Ethiopia (SCORE), mobilized a rapid faith-based response. Under the leadership of Fr. Eric Patrick Onai, C.S.Sp. , Parish Priest of St. Simeon's Catholic Church in Arba Minch, and in collaboration with the Apostolic Vicariate of Soddo, essential supplies including food, mattresses, blankets, and water treatment equipment have been distributed to struggling families.
However, the scale of the crisis far exceeds current resources. A secondary crisis is now unfolding: acute food shortages, risk of malnutrition, lack of medical care, and a growing water crisis threaten to claim more lives. Access to the most affected areas, particularly Mazo Doysa, Laka, and Tsayte, remains severely constrained by impassable roads. This project proposal seeks USD 5,000 to expand and deepen these life-saving interventions over a three-month period. The project will deliver targeted emergency food assistance, essential medical care, nutritional support, and critical hygiene supplies to 100 of the most vulnerable individuals, prioritizing children, breastfeeding mothers, and female-headed households in the hardest-to-reach communities.
Your support will not only provide immediate relief but will also affirm the profound communal solidarity that has emerged from this tragedy, embodying the Spiritan commitment to stand with the most vulnerable and to bear witness to the enduring power of compassion. Over the next three months IHM will send donations to support this program.