UNITED NATIONS, Nov. 20 (Xinhua) -- United Nations humanitarian agencies are preparing to send emergency supplies to flood-hit regions of Ethiopia, according to a news release on the UN website Thursday.

    Flash floods caused by heavy rains have displaced many people and damaged about 2,000 hectares of cropland.

    Food, water, health care and other non-food items are needed to help the inhabitants in both the Somali region and the highlands of the neighbouring Oromiya region, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported.

    A multi-agency UN mission is being dispatched to the affected areas to identify the biggest emergency and recovery needs, according to the OCHA.

    The UN World Health Organization (WHO) is also finalizing preparations to send emergency health kits after discussions with national health authorities.