Floods of the century hit Somalia after historic drought

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on Thursday that some 1.6 million people in Somalia may have been affected by heavy rains and floods, which were made worse by the combined effects of two climate phenomena, El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole.

Historic floods are occurring in Somalia and neighboring countries in East Africa. Photo: Reuters

Flooding following heavy rains that began in early October has killed at least 29 people and forced more than 300,000 from their homes in Somalia, while inundating towns and villages across northern Kenya.

Camps for refugees displaced by the Muslim insurgency and the worst drought in four decades were also flooded, forcing the miserable people to flee for a second time.

Large-scale displacement, increased humanitarian needs and further property destruction remain likely, with some 1.5 million hectares of agricultural land potentially destroyed, OCHA said.

“Extreme weather linked to the ongoing El Niño phenomenon threatens to further exacerbate humanitarian needs in already vulnerable communities in Somalia and elsewhere,” said Martin Griffiths, UN Under-Secretary-General and Emergency Relief Coordinator for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator.

Huy Hoang (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/lu-lut-the-ky-tran-vao-somalia-sau-dot-han-han-lich-su-post271935.html