Often grappling with the adversities of extreme weather, Somalia finds itself once again at the mercy of nature’s wrath.
The El Nino phenomenon triggered flash floods, causing widespread devastation in the southwestern Baidoa. According to the UN humanitarian agency, the unsettling event has displaced over 107,000 people.
CGTN reporter Mohamed Kahiya filed this report.
WATCH: Somalia flash floods
Dire circumstances amidst the deluge
Heavy rains, initiating the seasonal downpour, struck with intensified fury, resulting in notably heavier rainfall and consequential flooding.
Over 17,000 families have been directly impacted by the turbulent floods, causing particular havoc among 86,000 internally displaced individuals residing on Baidoa’s periphery.
In a calamitous episode, two lives were lost as the surging waters mercilessly swept away homes.
In the words of Mohamed Ibrahim, an internally displaced resident, “The flooding caught us off guard. It destroyed the latrines. We don’t have proper shelter and have no tents. We don’t have food and clean water as well. There are sick people, the elderly, and children.”
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A plea for urgent help
As the skies show no mercy, residents like Deynabo Mohamed find themselves clinging to hope amidst the despair, appealing for vital aid: “We are appealing for urgent help to survive. The water swept away our belongings and latrines, and the rains started now … Therefore, we are calling for quick help.”
In a solemn statement, Baidoa District Commissioner Abdullahi Ali, confirmed the loss of life and hinted at the potential of ongoing turmoil: “We have records of two people who lost their lives after the floods swept away their homes following 12 hours of continued raining and we predict this weather will continue in the next coming weeks. As the local administration, we are trying our best to divert water from residential areas, especially shelters for the internally displaced.”
Warnings and call to action
While combatting the natural catastrophe, Somali authorities are urging citizens to heed warnings and guidelines provided by the National Early Warning Centre as they predict persistent heavy rains across various regions of the country.
Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre expressed his concern for the ongoing crisis: “If these torrential rains continue, it might worsen the situation, causing more damage, including loss of lives and property. And as we know, we are a country recovering from difficult situations, with weak institutions to deal with situations like Elnino and drought. Therefore, we are urging the public to take seriously the warning issued by the National Disaster Management Agency.”
International assistance: A beacon of hope
Somalia, vulnerably positioned against extreme weather conditions such as El Nino, leans heavily on the support provided by international partners, including various UN agencies.
In a country where the dichotomy of nature’s beauty and ferocity plays out in stark contrast, the collective efforts of national and international entities become pivotal in navigating through the ongoing catastrophe.
*CGTN is a BGTN content partner
