The Impact Of Floods On Socio-Economic Status Of Residents In Mettu Woreda, Ilubabor Zone, Oromia Regional National State, Western Ethiopia

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.