At least 24 have died so far by the floods
MOGADISHU/N’DJAMENA, May 19 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Dozens have been killed in flooding in SOMALIA that has affected nearly 1 million people and displaced over 400,000 from their homes, according to the United Nations.
People struggled to wade through floodwater in the central Somalian city of Beledweyne after the Shabelle river burst its banks on Sunday and 1,200 people have been left marooned as roads are cut off.
The deluge left much of Beledweyne drenched and officials feared the flooding may spark the outbreak of diseases.
Hassan Elmi, a Beledweyne resident, said, “the flooding here has affected the entire city. Yesterday the water marker was lower but this morning it is up again. Things have changed and as you can see people are very worried about their safety. The government is helping some people, but those who are too weak or old need more help because they cannot wade through these flooded streets because the water is moving too fast.”
At least 24 have died so far.
The flooding was caused by heavy rain, which also drenched the highlands of neighbouring Ethiopia.
Torrential rains in southern CHAD since April have left nearly 6,000 people homeless, the UN said.
A joint evaluation mission of the UN agencies, non-profit groups and national authorities visited the affected provinces of Maingama and Moyen-Chari from April 27 to 29, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said in a statement.
“The delegation reported that 5,920 people (1,184 households) out of 9,486 returnees on the site have been affected, including 61 wounded and one death,” the statement added.
More than 62% houses have been totally or partially destroyed, forcing many families to find shelter with a relative or neighbor.
Of the more than 2,000 people now homeless, most are women and children.
“The delegation stressed the need for immediate action as the rainy season is approaching. This risks placing the site and its inhabitants in even more dire living conditions. Already under pressure from increased needs related to COVID-19,” OCHA urged.
Climate change has being markedly felt in Somalia, Chad and the Sahel region, according to remarks by Head of the UN Environment Liaison Office Samba Harouna Thiam in September of last year.
Rising temperatures and unpredictable rainfall caused by climate change have lowered crop yields. It is poor communities that often face greater exposure to climate hazards, because they have fewer resources to cope. — NNN-AGENCIES
