The Immeasurable Grief of Losing Five Children in The Landslide
The village of Geze is in deep pain and mourning following a landslide disaster that washed away homes and killed hundreds of people. The elderly, young, and children are still grieving and screaming nonstop. Following an unusual heavy rain, three successive landslides hit the mountainous area of Gofa where homes were located. As rescue missions are undergoing and the death toll continues to rise. Many households are facing the hard reality that they may not see their missing loved ones alive.
Gelaye Garda and Morgamo’s family are among those impacted greatly by the disaster. In one swift moment of the second landslide, their five precious children were instantly burried and killed. “My children were considerate of others. All five of them were at home when the first landslide came. When they learned about the tragedy, they all hurriedly rushed to assist others. All of a sudden, the second landslide struck and buried them all. I cannot even begin to describe the pain of losing them," Gelaye, the father, says with a heavy heart.
Everything seems worthless now to the 60-year-old man. "My children, whose smiles and melodious voices I have always treasured, are gone forever. We often spent time together in the evenings conversing, laughing, and sharing whatever we had. The memories of their laughter, the warmth of their hugs, and their joy in their accomplishments come flooding back to me now, leaving me in tears and deep misery. I haven't slept since receiving the terrible news. Nothing seems to make sense at this moment. I am desperate and feel like I am in the dark. I am broken in ways that can never be fixed," he weeps, his voice heavy with anguish and sadness.
Morgamo, the mother, is overwhelmed with sadness and admits, “When I found out my children had died, I attempted suicide. Others interfered, preventing me from ending my life.” She continues to cry; her heart is shattered.
Three of his sons were self-sufficient as a priest, a soldier, and a merchant, and his two daughters were about to complete the 12th grade. The whole village is mourning alongside the family, but no words can convey the intensity of their loss. Gelaye adds, “We faced many challenges ensuring our children grew up well and received what they needed. But, now, what is the point of all of those sacrifices?!”
Even though the landslide spared their home, they are now living in perpetual fear of losing even more, displaced along with their fellow villagers. The loss of their five darling children has left them completely devastated. Psychological treatment is essential for them to recover from the shock and profound sadness. They need help to repair their shattered lives and find a glimmer of hope for the future.
World Vision, working closely in partnership with other organizations, acted quickly to assist the landslide victims. A World Vision truck has arrived in the area to help the victims by delivering necessary relief and assistance to individuals so that their urgent needs are fulfilled with care and compassion. World Vision will continue to stand alongside the people of Gofa as it has stood alongside the people of Ethiopia in the past 50 years and more.
By Hilina Hailu, Communications Coordinator, World Vision Ethiopia
About World Vision:
World Vision began its first intervention in Ethiopia in 1971 with relief and opened the Ethiopia office in 1975. World Vision manages one of the biggest humanitarian and development portfolios in Ethiopia, with close to 300 long-term development programmes, 54 Area Programmes (APs) and over 1,700 staff.
Key contacts:
World Vision Ethiopia National Director: Karmen Till, phone: +251 966216625, Email: karmen_till@wvi.org
World Vision Ethiopia Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs Director: Kelbessa Daba, Phone: +251915643996, Email: kelbessa_daba@wvi.org
World Vision Ethiopia, Communications and Marketing Director: Sally Tirtadihardja, Mobile: +251 90 172 3344, Email: Sally_Tirtadihardja@wvi.org