Disaster after disaster: Floods wreak havoc in Jubaland as more get displaced

A man carries a sack through floodwater in Beledweyne, central Somalia. Flash flooding in central Somalia has killed 22 people and affected over 450,000, the UN's humanitarian agency OCHA said.

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Heavy rains continued to pound several parts of the country, with River Juba becoming the latest to break its bank, displacing several people while trapping others, in the latest disaster that accompanies El Nino rains across the Horn of Africa nation.

For a long time, Somalia has either been battling drought or floods, with both leaving devastating impacts on the people, temporarily and, or permanently affecting their lives. The long rains started in October after months of dry spells.

The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs [OCHA] said at least 2,400 people were trapped in the Luuq District of Jubaland after the Juba River broke its banks. There are deliberate efforts to rescue the affected people.

"Heavy rains have elevated the water levels on the Juba river, causing flooding in riverine areas of Jubaland State, Somalia," OCHA said. "In Luuq district, 2,400 people have been trapped in an area surrounded by water. Authorities and partners are making frantic efforts to evacuate them."

"More people are getting affected by the heavy rains and flash floods every day," the office warned while acknowledging that the country is in dire need of support from international partners."OCHA is working with key partners and government officials to make sure critical assistance is provided to those affected and urgent solutions are found."

Daudi Aweis, the Federal Government of Somalia's minister for Information, Tourism, and Culture, acknowledged that HirShabelle, Jubaland, and Southwest states are tackling floods, which have already left 14 people dead across the country.

"Devastating floods hit Jubbaland, Hirshabelle, and South West states in Somalia. The Jubba and Shabelle rivers have overflowed, causing widespread damage and displacement. Government mobilizing resources, but support from all is critical," Aweis said.

According to rapid assessments conducted by humanitarian partners and local authorities, about 278,000 people were affected by the impact of the seasonal Deyr rains and related flash flooding between 4 and 25, in Galmudug, Hirshabelle, Jubaland, and South West states.

The majority of the affected people, most of whom are in displacement sites have reportedly returned to their normal lives after the flash floods subsided. They however remain vulnerable to subsequent flooding if the rains continue as forecast, since most of the displacement sites are located in low-lying areas.

According to partners and the authorities in the four states, about 43,840 people have been relocated to higher grounds due to floods; 88 percent [about 38,360 people] were recorded in Hirshabelle state, OCHA notes.

GAROWE ONLINE