53 Killed in Somalia Floods, Nearly 700,000 Displaced
- Phys.org
Somalia – Flash flooding caused by heavy rains in Somalia has killed 50, and nearly 700,000 people have been forced to flee their homes, according to a government official.Â
With heavy rains beginning to fall on Tuesday local time, the suffering of people in the country is expected to worsen.Â
"Fifty people died in this disaster, while 687,235 people were forced to leave their homes," Mohamud Moalim Abdullahi, director of the Somalia Disaster Management Agency, told a press conference on Monday.Â
"The expected rains between November 21 and 24 could cause more flooding that could lead to deaths and major damage," it continued.Â
The Horn of Africa region is experiencing torrential rainfall and floods linked to the El Nino weather phenomenon, claiming dozens of lives and causing large-scale displacement, including in Somalia, where the downpours have destroyed bridges and inundated residential areas.
The floods and extreme rains have resulted in "catastrophic" consequences for hundreds of thousands of people who have lost their homes and possessions, or their animals and crops, the International Rescue Committee said in a statement on Monday, adding that more than 1.7 million people were in "urgent need". "urgent needs".Â
With above-normal rainfall expected to continue until the end of 2023, this will exacerbate an already severe humanitarian situation, with 4.3 million people, a quarter of the population expected to face crisis-level hunger or worse by the end of 2023.Â
NGO World Vision says that the current floods have destroyed homes, schools and roads, leaving children without basic necessities such as shelter, food and drinking water.