Over 100,000 forced from homes as floods rage in Beletweyne

At least 100,000 families have been displaced by floods in Beletweyne and thousands of others are facing further displacement.

HirShabelle State president Mohamed Waare told reporters Friday the situation was worsening in Beletweyne and called for emergency humanitarian response to avert further suffering.

“The river has breached its banks in Beletweyne town and a sheet of flood watrer has covered much of the town and the surrounding villages. In Jowhar, the river flooding has taken place in a number of places, most critically at Mandhere village. The flooding from this spot threaten, despite our best efforts to cut the Jowhar-Mogadishu road,” Waare said in a statement to newsrooms.

Goobjoog News correspondent in Beletweyne town said Saturday the flooding had gone on unabated and more families are still vacating the area. “Electricity has been cut off and everybody is picking what they can to move to higher grounds.”

Waare warned Friday the crisis was fast evolving. “There is a humanitarian crisis developing in front of our own eyes in Beled Weyne town. Over 100,000 people have been displaced from their homes, many with young children sickened old relatives. More are displaced every day as the crisis continues.”

“These displaced families are in immediate need of drinking water, shelter, and sanitation facilities. The danger of water-borne diseases cannot be overstated.”

The Norwegian Refugee Council said Friday over 400,000 people had been affected.

According to Victor Moses, Somalia’s county director for the NRC, displaced people are currently seeking refuge in areas which are considered flood-prone, with limited access to clean water.

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“Our staff on the ground have seen the elderly, women and children struggling to survive while their flimsy shelters are knee-high full of stagnant water. And worst is likely yet to come. The current situation is a ticking time bomb for disease outbreaks like cholera and malaria,” warned the director.