Somali Magazine – The heavy rains and flooding as per the UN agency data have killed 50 people and rendered thousands homeless in Kenya and Somalia.
Earlier this week the Federal Republic of Somalia declared an emergency after the extreme weather killed at least 25 people and destroyed homes, roads, and bridges.
Emergency and rescue workers are struggling to reach over 2,400 residents trapped by floodwaters in the affected area of Luuq district of southern Somalia’s Jubaland state.
The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs warned of a high risk of flooding along the Juba and Shabelle rivers and called for the evacuation of people living along the entire stretch of the Juba.
According to Hassan Isse, Managing Director, of Somalia Disaster Management Agency told the media. “The Somalia Disaster Management Agency is swiftly responding to the crisis, with plans to dispatch a flight to Dollow and transport two boats from Kismayo to Luuq and one to Baardhere to assist with evacuations,”
Isse further pointed out “The magnitude of the current floods is likely to deteriorate in the next few days due to the emergence of more water from upstream in the Ethiopian Highlands.”
The situation is not different in neighbouring Kenya, where the Kenya Red Cross said the death toll had risen to 15 since the heavy rains began Friday, with the port city of Mombasa and the northeastern counties of Mandera and Wajir the worst affected.
The aid agency as of Sunday said that the continuous flash floods had destroyed 241 acres of farmland and killed 1,067 livestock, the Kenya Red Cross reported.
Weather forecasters in Kenya started warning in September that rains would be heavier than usual during the short rainy season between October and December.
Last month President William Ruto contradicted the forecast, telling Kenyans that the experts had revised their advice and that “there would be no devastating El Nino flooding.”
Heavy rains and flooding have also been reported in the Somali region of Ethiopia where thousands have been forced to flee their homes after houses and farmlands were destroyed by flood waters.