Torrential rainfall has unleashed deadly floods across Somalia, resulting in the tragic loss of at least 31 lives, as reported by authorities on Sunday.
Since October, the relentless flooding has uprooted nearly half a million people and disrupted the lives of over 1.2 million individuals, with Minister of Information Daud Aweis providing these grim statistics during a press conference held in the capital city, Mogadishu.
Additionally, the floods have wrought extensive damage to civilian infrastructure, particularly in the Gedo region of southern Somalia.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), having allocated $25 million to mitigate the impact of these catastrophic floods, issued a grave warning last Thursday.
They described the situation as "a flood event of a magnitude statistically likely only once in 100 years, with significant anticipated humanitarian impacts."
OCHA emphasized that while efforts to prepare for such a disaster are underway, it is virtually impossible to prevent an event of this scale.
They called for "early warning and early action" to safeguard lives, given the likelihood of large-scale displacement, increased humanitarian needs, and further property destruction.
These devastating floods pose a severe threat to the lives of approximately 1.6 million people in Somalia during the ongoing rainy season, which extends until December.
Furthermore, there is concern that 1.5 million hectares of farmland could potentially be destroyed, exacerbating food security challenges.
Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, has been particularly hard-hit by the relentless downpours, with vulnerable individuals, including children and the elderly, being swept away by floodwaters. Transportation has also been severely disrupted.
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