The United Nations humanitarian agency has raised concerns over a likely deterioration of the living conditions, particularly for internally displaced persons (IDPs) living in overcrowded settlements with inadequate shelter in Bardhere district, Gedo region.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said early 14 people have perished with thousands displaced and property destroyed due to flash floods caused by heavy rains in southern Somalia.
The lives were lost in the Bardhere town which has experienced the heaviest rainfall in recent days.
It said several areas of Somalia have received light to moderate rains over the past week, signaling an early start of the Gu (April-May-June) rainy season.
“Rainfall forecasts indicate a continuation of the rains in most parts of the country through March, but with drier than normal conditions towards the end of the season,” the OCHA said in its latest rainfall outlook for the 2023 Gu season released Thursday evening.
According to the OCHA, heavy rains in Galmudug State in central Somalia caused flash flooding and cut off electricity in Adado and Dhusamareb towns Wednesday.
In Puntland State in northeastern Somalia, the floods also resulted in the loss of crops and livestock, as well as the destruction of infrastructure including businesses and residential houses, and IDP settlements, forcing displaced to reportedly move to higher grounds.
