By MCC (DV) Robert Palomares
DIRE DAWA, Ethiopia – Seabees from Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) began assembling tents with the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) Aug. 19 to house some of the approximately 6,000 people left without homes because of recent floods here.
An estimated 250 people are confirmed dead and another 300 are still missing as a result of the four-meter-high wall of water that crashed through the city of Dire Dawa Aug. 6.
The 6,000 displaced people are currently sheltered in schools throughout the city.
The Seabees are part of a cooperative effort, which includes the ENDF, and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), to help the local government provide shelter and other assistance to the flood victims. {Click on image for photo details}
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Additional services and items, such as food, mattresses, water treatment materials, and supplies to improve sanitation conditions are being provided through partner agencies, including CARE, Population Services International, and the International Rescue Committee.
U.S. Navy Cmdr. Paul Vandenberg of CJTF-HOA and Glenn Anders, USAID’s mission director, met with the mayor of Dire Dawa and other officials to make recommendations for additional assistance.
Dr. Tsegereda Kifle, the health minister for the Dire Dawa region, approved setting up a medical clinic at a nearby school to provide emergency care to victims.
U.S. Navy Lt. Cmdr. Steven Shadley, of CJTF-HOA’s medical training team, said that medical professionals from CJTF-HOA will be in Dire Dawa this week to assist the local healthcare providers with medical care to the displaced residents, as well as provide education and counseling on basic healthcare.
But the immediate need is shelter and sanitation services, which the Seabees are providing with the ENDF. They will assemble more than 60 tents for the victims of the flood and will provide toilets for the camp as well.
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