Families Rebuilding after Devastating Landslides in Southern part of Ethiopia

Imagine being 10 years old and waking to the heart-wrenching sound of people’s cries and shrills piercing through the morning air. For Asrat and Bekurat, twin sisters, this was no nightmare but their lived reality. In an instant, the life they knew crumbled under a torrent of mud and devastation.  “It was the most frightening experience of my life,” recalls their mother, Tigist. “I was preparing breakfast for the family, like every other morning, when I heard the shouting. When I stepped outside, I saw the earth sliding down the hill. I grabbed my six children and ran as fast as I could.”  

The landslide in Gezei Gofa claimed more than 250 lives, including the family’s home, their five cows, two sheep, chicken and everything they owned. Tigist relied on selling butter and eggs to support her family, but losing the livestock put their livelihood and food security in jeopardy. Tigist, clutching her children, sought refuge in the nearby village of Burda, where survivors gathered amidst grief and loss. 

The government provided temporary shelter for Tigist’s family and others who had lost their homes. The emotional toll was too intense. “My children were deeply traumatised by the whole incident, especially the twins, Asrat and Bekurat,” Tigist shared. The grief and loss all around them and the things they overheard were too much for them to comprehend. For me, learning of my cousins’s deaths was an additional heartbreak.”  

In the wake of the disaster, World Vision, with funding from the German Embassy, launched the Kencho Gozdie (Gofa) Integrated Lifesaving Landslide Response project, focused on providing protection and shelter support for the affected community. A temporary Child-Friendly Space was established to offer psychosocial support for children, while a Women and Girls Safe Space was created to support the healing and well-being of women and girls. Both centres played a crucial role in disseminating key mental health and protection messages to the community. Tigist and her children began visiting these spaces soon after they were set up.  

At the Child-Friendly Space, Asrat and Bekurat found a safe environment where they could play, draw, and participate in interactive activities that helped them process their emotions and regain a sense of normalcy. Asrat found joy in drawing, recently creating a picture of her father. 

“I have never used a colouring pencil before, and I love the different colours,” said Bekurat, who also enjoys playing with a curly-haired doll and chatting with her sister and friends. Back at home, the twins elatedly talk about their time at the centre. This brings their mother a sense of relief. For her, these moments of happiness are one way of knowing that her daughters are healing from the unpleasant experiences they endured.

Meanwhile, Tigist is actively involved in the Women and Girls Safe Space, where she has found solace and strength. Here, she attends counselling sessions, bravely sharing her experiences and grief with other women who, like her, have lost everything. These spaces have become a lifeline, offering emotional support and practical assistance. 

In these sessions, Tigist learns about gender-based violence prevention and available services. She also finds moments of joy and connection, sharing coffee and conversations with friends, and takes comfort in crocheting, a small but meaningful act of reclaiming her peace and normalcy amidst the chaos and disruptions of her life.   

Through this sanctuary of hope, Tigist, her daughters, and over 200 children and women have begun to rebuild their lives.  

By Bethel Shiferaw, Communication Coordinator (HEA), World Vision Ethiopia