Somalia has been hit by a series of heavy rains that have caused floods, landslides and displacement in several regions of the country. The worst affected area is the Bandarbeyla district in the Bari region of the Puntland state, where two children died and three others were injured after their house collapsed due to the rain.
According to the district commissioner of Bandarbeyla, Abdurashid Yusuf, the rain lasted for four consecutive days and displaced more than 100 families. He told the national media that he had contacted the administration and that assistance was provided to the people affected by the rain.
The heavy rains have also disrupted the transportation and communication networks in the region, making it difficult for humanitarian agencies to reach the affected communities. The Somali government and its partners have appealed for more support to respond to the emergency situation and prevent further loss of lives and livelihoods.
The heavy rains are attributed to the La Niña phenomenon, which is expected to bring above-average rainfall to parts of East Africa. The Somali Disaster management Authority (SoDMA) Agency has warned of more flash floods and riverine floods in the coming days and urged people to take precautionary measures.
