CNN
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About 1.2 million people have been forced from their homes by floods after the Shabelle River in central Somalia broke its banks and submerged the town of Beledweyne, even as the country grapples with its worst drought in four decades, according to the government. is facing.
Aid agencies and scientists have warned that climate change is one of the major factors exacerbating humanitarian emergencies, while those affected are at least responsible for CO2 emissions.
Local residents said seasonal rains in Somalia and upstream in the Ethiopian highlands caused flash floods that swept away homes, crops and livestock, and temporarily closed schools and hospitals in Beledweyne, the capital of Hiran region.
“Once the whole city was under water. Beledweyne itself became like an ocean,” said shopkeeper Ahmed Noor, whose business was washed away.
“Only the roofs of the houses could be seen. We used small boats and tractors to rescue people.”
Noor is living with relatives on that side of the city, which just a few weeks ago was celebrating the end of a severe drought.
“It rained, we were happy. People planted their crops,” he said.
According to UN figures, 43,000 people died last year due to drought, violence and soaring food prices caused by the war in Ukraine.
According to the United Nations Humanitarian Office (OCHA), the floods have affected more than 460,000 nationwide since mid-March and killed 22 people.
The Somali Disaster Management Agency said more than 245,000 people were displaced by the floods in Beledweyne alone.
“It will take time to recover from six consecutive seasons of poor rainfall performance,” OCHA said in a May 14 report.
OCHA said in a report that the rains are recharging water sources and enabling vegetation to regenerate, however, more rain will be needed to effectively mitigate the effects of the recent drought.
After the back-to-back disasters, at least one resident of Bledweyne, Halimah Abdullahi, said she had seen enough, making her one of 216 million people who the World Bank predicts will die by 2050 due to climate change. Can force you to relocate to your own country. Tension.
The mother of two said, “We will move to faraway villages.” “Bledweyne no longer exists.”