Floods claim 17 lives, displace 3,70,000 in Somalia

Floods claimed 17 lives, displaced over 3,70,000, and destroyed farmland and infrastructure in Somalia, the United Nations office said here on Wednesday.

The UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said, around 5,47,000 people have been affected by the floods. "In the Belet Weyne district, around 45,500 households (273,000 people) have fled their homes," Xinhua news agency reported.

Farmland, infrastructure and roads were destroyed in some of the worst-hit areas in Hirshabelle, Jubaland and Southwest states, the UN said in its latest update on flooding in Somalia.

Rains would continue in November and aid agencies are warning of waterborne diseases and mass displacement, according to the Somalia Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM). SWALIM is managed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).

According to SWALIM, high river levels and flooding in Beletweyne and other areas along the Shabelle basin will continue for the next couple of days, given the current situation and rain forecast.

The rains could relieve prevailing water crisis in some parts of Puntland in northeast Somalia.

Flash flooding was also reported in the Benadir region, Jowhar in Hirshabelle, and Ceel Jaale and Jamame in Jubaland.IANS