Revealed: how Ethiopia's plantations are killing vital waterway
28 March 2012
New photographic evidence proves Ethiopia's controversial plantations scheme
is killing the Lower Omo River, a lifeline for
<
http://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes/omovalley#main> 100,000 tribal
people.
The Omo River downstream from the notorious
<
http://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes/omovalley/gibedam#main> Gibe
III dam is now being diverted into a newly-dug irrigation canal, one of
several which will feed a massively ambitious plantations scheme for state
and private investors.
These manmade canals are key to Ethiopia's plantations plan, which is
already having a hugely negative impact on UNESCO's Lower Omo World Heritage
site.
The government has revealed virtually nothing about the plantations program,
but an <
http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/8174> official map
obtained by Survival shows the enormous scope of the project.
One local person, speaking to a Survival researcher who recently visited the
area, said, 'I've never seen the river this low. During the dry season, like
it is now, you can usually cross by foot, and water reaches your knees. Now
I could cross without my feet getting wet.'
The Gibe III dam, 200 kms upstream, will interrupt the river's natural flow
and deprive thousands of tribespeople of their most valuable agricultural
land by stopping the annual flood.
The flooding of the Omo River feeds the rich biodiversity of the region and
ensures tribes such as the Bodi, Mursi and Dassanach can
<
http://www.survivalinternational.org/tribes/omovalley/wayoflife#main> feed
their cattle and produce beans and cereals in the fertile silt left behind.
There was a flood last year, but most Bodi and Mursi were not able to use it
for cultivation because of the irrigation project. There will be no flood
this year, as the dam reservoir starts to fill, nor in succeeding years. The
people have been told they will be given food aid in compensation.
Indigenous communities are also suffering from
<
http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/8115> violent human rights
abuses, as plans are implemented forcibly to resettle those who stand in the
way of the government's plans, and to take away their cattle.
Survival's Director Stephen Corry said today, 'Ethiopia's government is
destroying the Lower Omo Valley and the livelihoods of tens of thousands of
indigenous people - all in the name of 'development'. However the human cost
cannot be ignored. Re-directing a water lifeline is irresponsible and
reckless.'
<
http://assets.survivalinternational.org/pictures/1989/omo-river-below-diver
sion-clean_screen.jpg> Efforts to re-direct the Omo River for irrigation are
drying up a key water source for tribes.
<
http://assets.survivalinternational.org/pictures/1982/ewca-map_screen.jpg>
A copy of the leaked Ethiopia map. Survival has highlighted the three
resettlement areas.
<
http://assets.survivalinternational.org/pictures/1948/17_screen.jpg> Two
Karo boys in front of a full Omo River. Water levels are now unrecognizably
low.
Two Karo boys in front of a full Omo River. Water levels are now
unrecognizably low.
C Survival
----[Mailing List for Eritrea Related News ]----
Received on Wed Mar 28 2012 - 18:59:17 EDT
