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Floods in Somalia displace more than 250,000 people: U.N.

01 November 2019 22:02 (UTC +04:00)

Heavy rains have killed at least 10 people and displaced more than 270,000 in Somalia, destroying infrastructure and livelihoods in the Horn of Africa nation, the United Nations said on Friday, APA reports quoting Rueters.

East Africa has been experiencing heavy rains, experts say, with floods forcing families from their homes.

The Indian Ocean Dipole, the Indian Ocean’s equivalent of the Pacific Ocean-based El Nino, is at its strongest since 2006, the regional trade bloc of eight East African nations known as the Intergovernmental Authority on Development said on Friday.

“In this state, warm moist air flows westwards inland increasing the likelihood of higher rainfall over East African countries,” it said.

In the town of Beledweyne in central Somalia, a river overflowed and about 10 people died when a boat capsized trying to rescue stranded residents, residents said.

“I am still stranded in a hotel in Beledweyne,” Mohamed Nur told Reuters from the town. “A relative of mine was among those who died after the boat capsized this week.”

Halima Abdullahi, a mother of three, told Reuters by phone that floodwaters had trapped her family and they were desperately awaiting rescue.