Addis Abeba – Local authorities have announced that the relocation of pastoralists residing in the Awash Fentale district, near the Kesem Dam, is currently in progress.
Confirming the relocation of pastoralists, Ahmed Ibrahim, the zone’s command post coordinator, stated that humanitarian assistance is being provided to those affected by the relocation process.
In an interview with state media, Binyam Wubshat, a representative of the Kesem Dam administration, elaborated on the dam’s design and capabilities.
“The Kesem Dam, constructed to mitigate land erosion, is designed to withstand earthquakes up to a magnitude of seven on the Richter scale,” Binyam explained. “No issues related to land displacement have been reported thus far.”
The construction of the Kesem Dam commenced in 2004, and it became operational in 2019. Spanning over 20,000 hectares, the dam has a capacity to hold 500 million cubic meters of water and stands at a height of 94 meters.
The Afar region and its surrounding areas have recently experienced a series of seismic events, including a 5.8-magnitude earthquake on 04 January, 2025, recorded 56 kilometers south-southeast of Abomsa. Earlier the same day, a 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck 44 kilometers northeast of Āwash at a depth of 10 kilometers.
Recent reports indicate that the Kesem Sugar Factory, situated in the Dulasa district of the Afar region, has sustained significant damage due to the ongoing earthquakes.
In an interview with state media last week, Hassan Dawud, Director-General of the regulatory authority for government development agencies, stated that the repeated seismic activity has affected both private residences and public institutions, including the Kesem Sugar Factory.
Hassan further noted that the tremors persist and emphasized that extensive evacuation efforts are underway to relocate residents from the affected areas. Moreover, employees of the Kesem Sugar Factory are also being evacuated to ensure their safety.
In its latest update, the Ethiopian Red Cross Society (ERCS) announced that it has conducted a rapid assessment in the affected areas. It is estimated that approximately 81,750 individuals have been impacted. The ERCS also highlighted key concerns regarding emergency shelter, food assistance, and access to clean water.
The Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC) reported on 05 January that over 20,500 individuals have been relocated from earthquake-prone areas in the Afar and Oromia regions due to increased seismic activity.
Following the recent 5.8-magnitude earthquake, which was felt in the capital, the Addis Abba City Administration also announced the establishment of a task force to strengthen precautionary measures and assess the city’s vulnerability to earthquakes.
Recently, Addis Standard reported that frequent earthquakes in Awash Fentale have caused the collapse of over 30 homes, displacing thousands of residents who have sought refuge in neighboring areas. AS
