At least 31 lives have been claimed by the devastating floods triggered by heavy downpours in various parts of Somalia, as confirmed by the Somali government.
The aftermath of the floods in Beledweyne, situated in central Somalia, has left residents grappling with navigating through the deluged streets, as floodwaters continue to rise.
Ahmed Idow, a local resident, vividly described the dire situation in the area as “extremely bad,” shedding light on the harrowing ordeal that the people are facing as they desperately seek refuge from the force of the water. “People are running for their lives because of the force of the water. Some people are using tractors to get through,” he revealed, painting a distressing picture of the ongoing catastrophe.
According to Minister of Information Daud Aweis, since October, the floods have uprooted nearly 500,000 individuals and disrupted the lives of over 1.2 million people. The aftermath has also left a trail of extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, particularly in the Gedo region of southern Somalia.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has allocated $25 million to aid in alleviating the impact of the flooding. In a cautionary statement issued on Thursday, OCHA warned of “a flood event of a magnitude statistically likely only once in 100 years, with significant anticipated humanitarian impacts.”
During the rainy season, which persists until December, an estimated 1.6 million people in Somalia are at risk of displacement due to floods, with a staggering 1.5 million hectares of farmland potentially facing destruction, the OCHA reported.
The relentless downpours in Mogadishu have not only led to the loss of lives, including vulnerable individuals such as children and the elderly, but have also disrupted transportation in the region.
The catastrophic effects of the floods are not confined to Somalia alone; neighboring Kenya is also grappling with the impact, with the death toll standing at 15 as of Monday, as per the Kenya Red Cross. The port city of Mombasa and the northeastern counties of Mandera and Wajir have borne the brunt of the devastation.
As Somalia continues to grapple with the aftermath of the catastrophic floods, the repercussions underscore the urgent need for comprehensive disaster relief efforts to aid the affected populace and rebuild the ravaged regions.
