Flash floods kill several people in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - At least 14 people have been killed in Somalia following flash floods, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs [OCHA] has revealed, with the country falling into another tragedy following months of drought which ravaged the country, affecting both people and livestock.

Bardheere District, OCHA said, is the worst affected by the flash floods within the Gedo region of Jubaland. Last year, a number of people died in the same district following a drought that displaced several people. The country has always struggled with drought and floods.

OCHA has additionally reported that several areas of Somalia have experienced light to moderate rain over the past week, signaling the onset of the Gu rainy season from April to June. The Gu season is the main wet season in Somalia.

Weather forecasters have announced that rains will continue in several parts of the country in the next couple of months with OCHA noting that diseases such as cholera and measles could break. The health infrastructure in the region remains dilapidated following decades of instability.

In Galmadug, heavy rains have propelled flash floods in Adaado and Dhusamareeb with most parts of the regional administrative capital remaining impassable. Adaado town, the Karaama and Waaberi neighborhoods, and other low-lying areas are flooded, forcing most schools to close down.

Jubaland is the worst affected state with 14 deaths being reported in Baadheere District. According to reports, nine of the victims died as they attempted to cross one of the swollen rivers with over 8,000 IDP camps affected directly according to the United Nations. River Juba always breaks her banks in the event of heavy rains in Ethiopia.

Further in the North, flash floods have been reported in Puntland particularly in the Nugaal region with Bosaso and Garowe partly affected. The federal government of Somalia has perennially struggled to contain floods and the situation could worsen should the international community fail to act in time.

GAROWE ONLINE