Government calls for scaled-up response as floods wreck havoc in parts of the country

A boy walks through receding flood waters in Cabuduwaaq, Galgaduud region in central Somalia where at least 2,500 people were affected by flash floods in March 2013. Credit: OCHA/R. Geekie

The government has called on humanitarian actors in the country to scale up live saving response in various parts of the country in the wake of floods affecting mostly overcrowded settlements.

The Humanitarian Affairs Ministry said the Gu rains currently being experienced in the country were easing water shortage and drought conditions in the country but also causing flooding in riverine areas affecting or displacing communities in those areas.

“The IDPs, a majority of whom are women and children, live in poorly constructed shelters, exposing them to inclement weather and have limited access to hygiene facilities, thus heightening the risk of communicable diseases,” the ministry said. “In some areas, disease outbreaks such as AWD/cholera are already increasing.”

A Somalia Flood Watch this past week singled out Hiraan (Baletweune), Middle Shabelle (Jowhar), Gedo (Dolow, Luuq), Middle Jubba (Buale, Saakow, Jilib) and Bakool (Tiaglow, Hudur, Elberde) as most affected.

Priority needs include; Food, WASH, shelter, health supplies for AWD/cholera, Malaria, and other communicable disease response, sandbags to mitigate river overflows, the ministry said calling on humanitarian agencies to coordinate their response through the ministry.

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