The crisis started when the deyr rainy season began in October, six months after the country had just recovered from a severe drought that almost caused a widespread famine.
Tweet URL
GConway_UN
“According to George Conway, the UN Deputy Special Representative and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, repeated instances of climate-related disasters, prevalent insecurity, and extreme poverty have driven the people of Somalia to their breaking point.”
‘Heartbreaking’ devastation
The continuous heavy rainfall and resulting floods are projected to inundate approximately 1.5 million hectares of farmland until the end of December.
Countless individuals have been isolated from access to markets and resources, or stranded in remote villages.
The roads, bridges, and other structures have suffered significant destruction, while important institutions like hospitals and schools have shut down, leading to an elevated risk of cholera.
Nimo Hassan, the Director of the Somali NGO Consortium, expressed that the destruction was heart-wrenching.
He stated that the floods have emphasized the pressing requirement for long-term solutions and readiness for disasters.
Rescue and relief
Up to this point, the Somali government and its partners have provided aid to approximately 820,000 individuals affected by the floods. However, as the floods continue to spread throughout the country, the demand for aid is increasing rapidly.
According to Mahamud Moallim, the Commissioner of Somalia’s Disaster Management Agency, the current focus is on rescuing families in need and offering urgent aid to those affected by the disaster.
The current state of affairs involves numerous Somalis struggling against hunger and malnutrition. It is estimated that 1.5 million children under the age of five will experience severe malnutrition from August to July of next year.
Humanitarian organizations have cautioned that they will not have the means to address current and future needs without extra funding.
The current funding for a plan to assist 7.6 million individuals this year is only 42 percent of the total cost, which amounts to $2.6 billion.
Source: news.un.org
