Somalia: President Hassan Sheikh holds "special" cabinet over floods

MOGADISHU, Somalia - President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud has held a special sitting over floods, which have continued to wreak havoc across the country, leaving dozens of people dead and several others displaced, subsequently, triggering calls for international help.

According to the state media, the president held the meeting on Monday evening, which was also attended by Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre, the chief coordinator of government programs and operations. Barre briefed the cabinet on actions taken to mitigate floods.

"President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud convened a special cabinet meeting today to address the country’s flood crisis. He received an update from Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre on the government’s actions to assist the flood victims and the ongoing rescue operation."

So far, over 31 people have died across Somalia following flush floods accompanied by heavy storms, Daudi Aweis, the country's minister for Information, Tourism and Culture said. Over 200,000 others have been displaced, he added.

The floods, officials say, have disrupted the lives of over 1 million people. They have also caused extensive damage to civilian infrastructure notably in the Gedo region of southern Somalia, he added, noting that there was a need for emergency help in the country.

While the government has been working hard to mitigate the effects of floods, the United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs [OCHA] has been on the frontline helping victims of floods across the country. The UN agency says it had disbursed over $25 million for mitigation.

The agency warned that “a flood event of a magnitude statistically likely only once in 100 years, with significant anticipated humanitarian impacts.” It insisted that more precautionary measures should be undertaken to avert the possibility of many deaths.

“While all possible preparatory measures are being pursued, a flood of this magnitude can only be mitigated and not prevented,” OCHA said, recommending “early warning and early action” to save lives as “large-scale displacement, increased humanitarian needs and further destruction of property remain likely.”

Some of the most affected areas include Southwest, Gedo, parts of HirShabelle, and Mogadishu. According to reports, Rivers Juba and Shabelle have broken their banks, causing overflow which has disrupted activities in various parts of the country.

GAROWE ONLINE