Central Somalia Floods Displace Thousands as River Shabelle Bursts Banks in Beledweyne
Recent heavy rainfall has led to severe flooding in central Somalia, causing extensive damage to towns and villages. As a result, thousands of residents have been forced to flee their homes, seeking safety from the flash floods that have submerged the area.
Local authorities and the United Nations’ humanitarian response agency have raised concerns over the potential spread of diseases, such as cholera, as the flooding disrupts local infrastructures. The impact of the floods has also been felt on local businesses, with a significant reduction in customers reported by shopkeepers.
The flooding in Beledweyne has led to the displacement of almost the entire population of some regions, with over 90% of the local towns fleeing to safety. The deputy governor of the Hiran Region, Hassan Ibrahim Abdulle, warned that the floods could push many families into destitution, compounding the effects of months of deadly drought that have killed tens of thousands of people and destroyed crops and livestock.
This flooding is in sharp contrast to the previous months of drought, emphasizing the vulnerability of communities in the region to both extreme weather events.
