Over 2,000 people marooned by floods in Gedo, about 10 killed countrywide as gov’t declares national floods emergency

GOOBJOOG NEWS| SOMALIA: Close to 3,000 people have been trapped by floods in Luuq district, Gedo region as displacements and deaths are reported in other parts of the country following heavy rains that have resulted in heavy flush floods.

The UN humanitarian agency, OCHA said 2,400 people in Luuq district are unable to flee to safety because they are in an area surrounded by floods. This follows elevated water levels in Juba river which has resulted in floods in riverine areas of Jubaland.

Deputy Prime Minister Salah Jama declares the floods a national emergency and revealed that nearly 10 people have been killed countrywide by floods as the El-Nino weather phenomenon is witnessed in many parts of the country.

In Beletweyne, the UK embassy distributed sandbags to communities living along the riverine areas of the Shabelle River.

OCHA announced in a brief on October 30 that nearly 300,000 people had been affected by the floods while 43,000 others had been relocated to higher grounds.