Death toll from Ethiopia floods and landslides rises to more than 100

Ethiopia faces an unprecedented humanitarian emergency as recent floods and landslides have claimed over 100 lives, with meteorological agencies warning that extreme weather patterns are intensifying across the Horn of Africa. This disaster underscores a critical reality for European investors: climate volatility is no longer a peripheral risk factor in East African operations—it has become a central variable affecting supply chains, infrastructure viability, and long-term asset security. The recent flooding events represent part of a broader climatic shift affecting the region. Intensified precipitation patterns, increasingly attributed to global warming, have created conditions where seasonal rains transform into catastrophic weather systems. Ethiopia's mountainous terrain and aging infrastructure amplify these impacts. Many communities lack adequate drainage systems and early warning mechanisms, creating a compounding vulnerability that extends far beyond immediate casualties. For European businesses operating in Ethiopia and neighboring countries, this crisis carries immediate operational implications. Ethiopia serves as a crucial logistics hub for East African trade, hosting significant agricultural processing facilities, manufacturing plants, and pharmaceutical operations. The recent flooding has disrupted transportation networks, damaged warehouses, and compromised crop yields—particularly affecting the coffee, sesame, and pulses sectors where European importers maintain substantial supply relationships. The economic ripple effects are substantial. The World