Ethiopia’s former two-time Olympic and four-time World 10,000m champion Haile Gebrselassie has donated a total of ETB 150,000 (USD 17,000) to assist victims of massive floods in the Eastern Ethiopian town of Dire Dawa.

Around 200 have already died and 300 others are still missing after the Dechatu River burst its banks and flooded Dire Dawa town on Saturday night. The death toll is expected to rise as police intensifies rescue.

“I am grieving with the people of Dire Dawa for their huge loss,” Gebrselassie told journalists at a press conference on Monday. “Their loss is the loss of all Ethiopians. It is in the Ethiopian culture to extend a helping hand to all those who are in need of help in the time of crisis. This is a small help we hope to provide.”

Gebrselassie’s total donation is divided into two parts with his company Haile-Alem International providing USD 11,500 and the Great Ethiopian Run, the mass participation event for which he is the project director, handing out USD 5,500 in support of the victims. 

It is the second time Gebrselassie has supported relief efforts in Ethiopia, but the first since he donated ETB 200,000 (USD 34,000) to drought-effected citizens four years ago. 

Elshadai Negash for the IAAF