In the Bardhere district of the Jubaland State of Somalia’s Jubaland, rapid flash floods have claimed the lives of at least 20 people.
The district was visited by representatives of the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), who verified the death toll of 20 and the injury toll of 2.
According to a statement from SoDMA dated March 25, this is the greatest flood to affect the region in a decade. A bridge has been wrecked, and hundreds of dwellings have been damaged. The floods had terrible repercussions for the nearby villages as they destroyed food storage facilities and destroyed acres of food crops. Two camps for internally displaced people (IDP) housed about 8,000 people total.
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According to SoDMA, thousands of people are struggling in the Bardhere district due to severe floods and want immediate assistance. Two planes carrying food, medication, and clothing have been dispatched to the impacted areas.
The UN reported rainfall in several areas of Somalia over the last few days, signaling an early start of the Gu rainy season which usually ruins from April to June. Heavy rain in the Ethiopian Highlands has also made its way downstream, increasing river levels in Somalia, the UN said.
Flash flooding cut off electricity in Cadaado and Dhuusamarreeb towns in Galmudug State on 22 March. Roads were damaged and some communities were left isolated. Others were forced to evacuate. Flash floods in Jalam town, Burtinle District, Puntland State, displaced hundreds and damaged property.
Somalia’s Ministry of Energy and Water Resources reported that Dinsoor, Qansax-Dheere, and Baydhaba districts recorded over 200 mm of rain in a week. Flows along the Jubba river are still high and an increase in levels of the Shebele river poses a high risk of flooding in Beldweyne, the Ministry warned. Further rain was expected, in particular in the South and North West of the country.
Story adapted from Floodlist
