On 26 July, the country began a three-day mourning period – flying flags half-mast—in honour of the people who died in the area, about 320 kilometres south of the capital, Addis Ababa.
The landslide—linked to climate change—first struck Kencho Shacha Gozdi, a remote village in Geze Gofa district on 21 July, and recurred on 22 July. The second round covered many of the local rescuers, who were digging the sea of mud in search of bodies and any survivors.
Although the authorities are yet to release the number of missing persons, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned the toll could reach 500.
The faith groups have expressed pain at the loss of lives and destruction of property, while offering their condolences to the families.
The Interreligious Council of Ethiopia expressed deep sorrow at the deaths and regretted that many had died as they attempted to save lives and reduce the damage.
“In this worst disaster, they have shown us that being Ethiopian means sacrificing one's life to save one another,” said the council, as it appealed for spiritual, psychological, physical, and material support to those affected by the disaster.
“At the times of such sudden disasters, Ethiopians have demonstrated a strong culture of helping and supporting each other.”
Ethiopia is Africa’s second populous nation after Nigeria. The majority of the people are Christians, with the majority of those being Ethiopian Orthodox. There is also a large population of Muslims.
Abune Mathias, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church said though the people were no strangers to suffering, “this particular hardship was difficult for both the speaker and the listener.”
“As Christians, we mourn the loss of our people, but we believe in the resurrection of the dead and pray for the comfort of our departed children," said Mathias. "In the name of God, we offer our paternal message, providing universal support to the local community enduring this suffering, and encouraging everyone to help as much as they can.”
Since the disaster, humanitarian agencies—including faith based ones—have raced to provide food, water, shelter, and other basic needs, to the affected communities.