Several lawmakers elected from the Hiiraan region and prominent politicians have called on the Somali government and the international community to immediately assist the flood-affected people in Beledweyne town as heavy rains continue.
During a meeting in Mogadishu, parliamentarians discussed the humanitarian crises resulting from the floods caused by torrential rains in the region and nearby areas.
Lawmaker Malik Abdalla stated that the people of Beledweyne face difficult conditions after being displaced from the town’s neighbourhoods. The residents fled a high-ground area located on the city’s outskirts, where they encountered severe situations.
“We demand that aid to Beledweyne be delivered carefully and safely and not be handed over to those seeking personal benefits from public assistance,” said MP Malik Abdalla.
Floods caused by heavy rains that started in early October in Somalia killed 50 people and displaced more than a half million others, the country’s national disaster agency said.
Somalia Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) said the torrential rains have also caused landslides and flash floods in other parts of Somalia, destroying crops and livestock.
Increased rainfall is forecast due to a concurrence of El Nino conditions and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole phenomenon.
