Somalia may face famine as a result of drought and floods that have devastated the country. Humanitarian organizations estimate that the crisis will affect up to 4.3 million people. In some cities, entire districts were underwater and deliveries of essential products were severely delayed.
Since October, East Africa has been struggling with the effects of heavy rains that hit the region. According to UN data, in Somalia alone, floods have already killed at least 32 people and forced over 456,000 inhabitants to leave their homes. According to the World Food Program (WFP), the disasters that hit this country may affect the lives of even more people in the future.
Climate shocks
WFP said on Tuesday that as a result of floods and droughts plaguing Somalia, a quarter of the country’s population will face crisis-level hunger or worse this year. Up to 4.3 million people may suffer.
“This bombardment of climate shocks, from drought to floods, will prolong the famine crisis in Somalia,” said Petroc Wilton, WFP national spokesman. – The drought killed millions of farm animals and destroyed hectares of pastures and farmlands. Now devastating floods are crippling our ability to rebuild.
“We will really feel the effects of this”
The situation is difficult in the Somali town of Doolow on the border with Ethiopia, where the streets have turned into rivers. As one of its residents told Reuters, no deliveries arrive there and people are afraid to venture into flooded areas for fear of their safety.
“There is a serious shortage of goods in the city: food, fuel and everything else,” he said. – We will really feel the effects of this.
The UN has described flooding in Somalia and neighboring East African countries, coming on the heels of a period of extreme drought, as a once-in-a-century event. The seasonal downpours have been made worse by the combined influence of two climatic phenomena: El Nino and the Indian Ocean Dipole, which bring heavy rains to the region.
Main photo source: Reuters