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Czech Republic supports Ethiopia in prevention of natural disasters

(This article expired 03.12.2015.)

Within a three-year capacity-building project, the Czech Geological Survey assisted the Geological Survey of Ethiopia in mapping and research of natural hazards, such as seismic activity, landslides and soil erosion, as well as of hydrogeological conditions in Southern Ethiopia.

The cross-cutting of the Ethiopian Rift in the territory of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is the reason why this country is strongly affected by natural hazards. Several active and dormant volcanoes and numerous geological faults with seismic activity are concentrated within the rift zone in the lake region of Southern Ethiopia. Light soils developed upon volcanic rocks are prone to erosion during episodic heavy rains. Landslides and rock-falls occur frequently on geological faults characterized by steep scarps as well as on the slopes of canyons. All of these hazardous processes and phenomena endanger lives and property and form serious limitations to economic development. The Geological Survey of Ethiopia (GSE) is responsible for systematic mapping and research of potential natural hazards and finding solutions to prevent, monitor or safeguard inhabitants and infrastructure against them. However, the GSE faces the problem of a lack of experts experienced in recognition and mapping of natural hazards as well as a shortage of necessary technical equipment.

This situation motivated the government of the Czech Republic to financially support, through the Czech Development Agency, a three year cooperation project entitled “Capacity building in environmental geology - Mapping of geo-risks including hydrogeological conditions in Dila and Hosaina areas, Ethiopia” with a total budget of 12 mil. CZK (approx. 630,000 USD). This budget also comprises the technical equipment necessary for mapping of natural hazards, which was donated to the GSE and will serve also in the future mapping. The project began in 2012 and was completed in 2014. Within the framework of this development cooperation project, the Czech Geological Survey assisted the GSE in mapping and research of natural hazards, including hydrogeological conditions in Southern Ethiopia. The expenses of the GSE experts were covered from a project financed by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development of Ethiopia.

The area covered by the mapping reaches an area of 35,000 km2 from Ziway as far south as Arba-Minch and also covers Hosaina, Hawasa, Dila and many other cities. The resulting geohazard and hydrogeological maps at a scale of 1:250,000 were complemented with several detailed studies. These studies focus on the geological setting of the close surroundings of the towns of Hawasa and Shashemene, the origin and development of ground cracks, the great pumiceous eruption of Wendo Koshe Volcano (near Hawasa) approx. 400 BC, and on several other phenomena. The quality of these studies completed during the Czech-Ethiopian cooperation also benefited from several special analyses determining the age of hazardous features. The successful implementation of the development cooperation project in capacity building in geohazards resulted in the training of about 20 GSE experts in mapping and better understanding of geological hazards and hydrogeology, as well as significant advancement in the knowledge of the geological settings and hazardous processes in Southern Ethiopia.

 

GSE experts during field training on Ameka landslide in Gibe Gorge (photo V. Žáček).