UN warns of looming floods in Bulo Burte in Hiiraan region

GOOBJOOG NEWS|HIIRAAN: Flooding is likely to be experienced in the Bulo Burte district in the Hiiraan region by tomorrow as the water levels in the Shabelle River continue to rise, the UN humanitarian agency OCHA has warned.

In its daily briefing on Monday, OCHA said the ‘river levels at Bulo Burte located about 100 km downstream of Belet Weyne, have shown a consistent increase from 5.74 meters on May 5th to 6.66 meters as of today, May 15th, 2023.’

OCHA said the current levels in Bulo Burto surpass the moderate flood risk threshold (put at 6.50 metres) by 16 centimetres adding that the area is susceptible to flooding.

“it is anticipated that the water level at Bulo Burti will reach the high flood risk level in approximately two days, as the flood wave continues its downstream movement from Belet Weyne,” the brief said.

It, however, noted that there has been no rainfall in both Belet Weyne and Bulo Burte over the past week and is not expected in the next three days.

Over 200,000 people have been displaced countrywide by the floods while 22 others have since been killed.