Heavy rains have triggered catastrophic floods across Somalia, leaving 10 lives lost and over 113,000 people displaced. This crisis follows a year of unprecedented drought, compounding the nation’s suffering.
The Somali Disaster Management Agency declared a state of emergency, highlighting the gravity of the situation. Particularly impacted are Puntland, Galmudug, South West, and Hirshabelle states, along with areas along the Juba river in Jubbaland State.
El Nino, the climatic phenomenon responsible for unusual Pacific warming, is identified as the driving force behind this calamity. Southwest and Jubbaland states bear the brunt, with approximately 536,608 individuals severely affected.
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Desperate pleas for aid are echoing through the Lower Shabelle region, where Amina Mohamed Bobshe, a distressed resident, recounted the loss of their meager possessions. Meanwhile, in southwest Gedo’s Luuq area, 2,400 individuals find themselves trapped by rising waters.
Additionally, 14,000 families are stranded in Baardhere, emphasizing the urgent need for rescue operations. Earlier this year, Beledweyne was submerged after the Shabelle river burst its banks, displacing a quarter of a million people.