First drought, then flood: at least 55 people drowned
The number of people who have died in Somalia in recent weeks following several weeks of heavy rainfall and flooding has risen to 55 by Friday, according to UN figures. Among them are 14 children, according to the UN emergency aid organization OCHA.
In the Horn of Africa country alone, which has been affected by severe drought for years, almost 700,000 people have had to flee the floods. Overall, OCHA estimates the number of people in Somalia affected by the floods and in need of aid at 1.7 million. A sharp rise in cholera cases has been observed in the flooded areas.
In neighboring Kenya, hundreds of thousands of people in the northern and eastern parts of the country are now also affected by severe flooding after five failed rainy seasons and devastating years of drought.
The weather phenomenon El Niño is exacerbating the already tense situation due to climate change and has led to above-average rainfall, said Camilla Schynoll, program coordinator of Welthungerhilfe in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. "Currently, continuous rain is forecast for the next two or more weeks and further flooding is expected."
There is also an 80 percent probability that El Niño will continue until the long rainy season from March to May 2024. This could significantly exacerbate the impact on the already strained food situation.
The heavy rainfall and flooding in Somalia, a country that has previously experienced severe drought, are attributed to the climate changing conditions exacerbated by the weather phenomenon El Niño. Furthermore, the upcoming forecast indicates continuous rain and potential for more flooding, potentially worsening the situation.
Source: www.dpa.com
