MOGADISHU – First, some households fled drought and violence. Now they are saying they have got nowhere to cover from intense flooding as rainfall exacerbated through the weather phenomenon El Nino pummels huge portions of Somalia.
Among the worst hit cities is the densely populated Beledweyne, the place the Shabelle River has burst its banks, destroyed many houses and brought about hundreds to escape to better flooring close to the border with Ethiopia.
Hakima Mohamud Hareed, a mom of 4 together with one who’s disabled, stated her circle of relatives repeatedly appears for safe haven.
The circle of relatives not too long ago moved to Beledweyne, fleeing battles between the extremist workforce al-Shabab and Somali govt forces. “We left our home in search of safety and stability, but little did we know that we would end up facing another calamity,” she said by phone.
In the displacement camp of Kutiimo in Beledweyne, the floods destroyed the family’s small, tattered tent. Wind lashes the damp and flimsy fabric.
“The floods washed away all our belongings, so we were left only with our lives,” she said. “It was a traumatic experience for all of us.”
They are not alone. According to the humanitarian group Save the Children, the flooding has forced an estimated 250,000 people, or 90% of Beledweyne’s population, out of their homes.
Somalia’s federal government declared a state of emergency in October after extreme weather exacerbated by El Nino destroyed homes, roads and bridges.
An El Nino is a natural, temporary and occasional warming of part of the Pacific that shifts weather patterns across the globe, often by moving the airborne paths for storms. It its hardest in December through February. Scientists believe climate change is making El Nino stronger.
Many parts of Somalia, as well as in neighboring Horn of Africa nations Kenya and Ethiopia, are still receiving torrential rainfall. At least 130 people have died in the three countries in what aid agencies have described as a rare flooding phenomenon.
The U.N.-backed Somali Water and Land Information Management project has warned of “a flood event of a magnitude statistically likely only once in 100 years,” the U.N. food agency said in a recent statement.
Some 1.6 million people in Somalia could be affected by flooding events in the rainy season lasting until December, it said.
Beledweyne, in the central region of Hiran, may be the most devastated community. As floodwaters swept through, homes were washed away.
Hakima said her family may be safe from flooding in their camp, but they are hungry and desperate for warm shelter.
“We ask our Somali brothers and sisters to help us get out of this situation, as we are struggling to survive,” she stated.
Mukhtar Moalim, the landlord of a retail store, described frantic makes an attempt to save lots of his belongings in Beledweyne’s marketplace after the river burst its banks. He and a relative swam in opposition to the store to take a look at to forestall the water from flowing in, placing concrete blocks in opposition to the door.
But the water degree helps to keep emerging, additionally threatening their place of abode at the ground above the store from which they observe the destruction.
At least 53 folks had been showed killed through flooding throughout Somalia, stated Hassan Issee, who manages emergency operations on the Somalia Disaster Management Agency.
“The situation is grave, and we are doing our best to provide relief to the affected people,” he stated.
Mogadishu, the Somali capital, has additionally been affected. The town’s primary streets, together with the street to the airport, have flooded.
Speaking on Wednesday in the Dollow district of Gedo area, the place many households had been displaced through flooding, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre steered the world group to assist.
“We are doing our best, but we need more support,” he stated.
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