UN seeks emergency support for 45,000 flood victims in Somalia

MOGADISHU, May 1 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations relief agency on Thursday called for immediate emergency assistance to support 45,000 people affected by flooding across Somalia.

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), four individuals, including two children, lost their lives after being swept away, while over 45,000 individuals have been affected by flash floods caused by moderate to heavy rainfall in various regions of Somalia since April 15.

OCHA said the Shabelle River burst its banks on Monday in Jowhar district, displacing over 6,000 people and inundating about 11,000 hectares of land.

"OCHA has reached out to partners to provide whatever emergency assistance they can deliver to those affected, particularly shelter, sanitation facilities, and relocation support," it said in its flash update released in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.

The UN agency said the flooding is occurring at a time when partners, especially national non-governmental agencies that often serve as frontline responders, are facing crippling funding reductions, which have severely limited their ability to respond to emerging needs.

The floods were triggered by moderate-to-heavy rains during the Gu (April to June) main rainy season, which typically begins on April 15 in parts of Somalia and the Ethiopian highlands, where the Juba and Shabelle rivers originate.

"The rains have, however, brought relief following six months of prolonged dry conditions by replenishing water points and pasture," OCHA said. ■