MOGADISHU, Somalia – The commissioner of the Somali Disaster Management Agency, SODMA announced that the death toll from the floods has now reached 120 people.
Mohamud Moaalin said that the deaths were reported in Bay, Gedo, and Lower Jubba, the most hit regions, where over one million people have been uprooted by the floods.
“Due to the floods, we recorded the death of 120 people in all the regions of the country, mostly in Bay, Gedo, and Jubba regions. The dead included dozens of people who died after their boat overturned while fleeing,” added Moalim.
In addition, the SODMA boss pointed out that it was difficult for some areas to deliver aid after most of the airports were closed due to the floods caused by the torrential rains.
The major towns in Somalia, including Beledweyne, Buulaburte, and Jalalaqsi in the Hiran region are underwater after the River Shabelle burst its banks and forced many to displace.
Water has also caused extensive damage to infrastructure notably.
The lives of some 1.6 million people in Somalia could be disrupted by floods during the rainy season that lasts until December, with 1.5 million hectares of farmland potentially being destroyed, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.
