A massive hydroelectric dam threatens the tribes of the Lower Omo River
The tribes have lived in this area for centuries and have developed techniques to survive in a challenging environment.
They have not been consulted about the dam and stand to lose their livelihoods based on the river’s natural flood cycle.
The Lower Omo River in south west Ethiopia is home to eight different tribes whose population is about 200,000.
They have lived there for centuries.
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| Young Mursi shepherds looking after livestock, Ethiopia. © Ingetje Tadros/ingetjetadros.com |
However the future of these tribes lies in the balance. A massive hydro-electric dam, Gibe III, is under construction on the Omo.
When completed it will destroy a fragile environment and the livelihoods of the tribes, which are closely linked to the river and its annual flood.
Salini Costruttori, an Italian company, started construction work on the Gibe III dam at the end of 2006, and has already built a third of it.
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| The Karo (or Kara), with a population of about 1000 - 1500 live on the east banks of the Omo River in south Ethiopia. Here, a Karo mother sits with her children. © Eric Lafforgue/Survival |
China’s largest bank, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), has agreed to fund part of the construction of the dam.
After carrying out preliminary evaluation studies, both the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) announced in 2010 that they were no longer considering funding Gibe III.
In March 2011, the Ethiopian government withdrew its request for aid credit from the Italian government. The request had raised great concern amongst many Italian NGOs, which urged the Italian Foreign Minister not to support the controversial dam.
Survival and various regional and international organisations believe that the Gibe III Dam will have catastrophic consequences for the tribes of the Omo River, who already live close to the margins of life in this dry and challenging area.
We are calling on potential funders not to support this project until a complete and independent social and environmental impact study is carried out and the tribal peoples have been fully consulted and given their free informed and prior consent.
Download a letter from Survival to the African Development Bank’s executive directors (PDF)
Download a second letter from Survival to the African Development Bank’s executive directors (PDF)
Download Africa Resources Working Group commentary (PDF)
Download International Rivers Factsheet (PDF)
