The U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has revealed that at least 21 people including six children died in Somalia’s flash flooding over the last week.
According to the U.N. humanitarian agency, nearly 100,000 people have been affected by the heavy rains and flash floods that hit the previously drought-stricken area in the Bardhere district of the Gedo region of southern Somalia.
The flooded region is close to Ethiopia, which has recently seen strong rains that are raising the water levels in the Shabelle and Juba rivers.
According to the Somalia National Disaster Management Agency, health facilities were completely devastated by the flash flooding.
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Communities living near rivers have been warned they are at risk, according to Mohamed Moalim, the agency’s strategic policy and partnership advisor.
The U.N.’s humanitarian agency reported that four schools and 200 latrines were destroyed by the flash floods, preventing 3,000 pupils from attending class.
According to the U.N. report, more than 1,000 hectares of cropland had also been submerged.
Story was adapted from Africa News
