Abstract:
This study examined the impact of floods on the socio-economic status of residents of
Mettu Woreda, Ilubabor Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Western Ethiopia. The
study established that floods impacted on people’s socio-economic status and critical
aspects such as agriculture, Social impacts, health, roads, education, housing, water and
sanitation and property and assets. The major challenges that faced in sustained
livelihood were the concern of study. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess
the impact of floods on the socio-economic aspects of residents of Mettu Woreda. The
study employed mixed method approach which includes both quantitative and qualitative
techniques.
From the kebele found in the woreda, four kebeles were selected using purposive
sampling techniques, One hundred Eight nine (189) household, six (6) key informants
and Twenty five (25) formal group discussion were selected for study. The data obtained
from survey questionnaire and entered into SPSS software to analyze the data. Then
descriptive statistics like frequency, percentage, graphical and tables are used. The
major finding of this study shown that lack of communities participation in preventing
floods impact, lack of community participation in construction of dams, lack awareness’
of people to re-use floods rains, non-sustainable management of land by planting trees
in flood risk area, training, lack of coordination between government and communities.
The following are the key recommendations: - Government and key stakeholders should
engage communities in order for them to move permanently to higher grounds as they have
expressed a willingness to relocate. There should be a deliberate policy to compel
communities especially in rural areas to build house using durable materials and away from
the flood prone areas and should aware of the flood risk in view of the climate variability.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives should through Extension Services encourage
Communities to increase area cultivated on the upland in order to enhance food security and
household level. The non-flood areas can serve as a temporary shelter for the settlements
during floods. Construction of dams should be considered to trap the excess water. This
could be used for irrigation. Local authorities in making them Community initiated
mitigation measures should be promoted so as to build community resilience. Multi-sectorial
inter-linkages should be promoted to minimize the impact flood on various aspects of society.
