Massive flooding in Somalia has claimed the lives of 50 people and forced approximately 700,000 individuals to flee their homes, according to a government official. Concerns are rising over worsening conditions due to heavy rainfall expected on Tuesday. The Horn of Africa has experienced heavy rains and sudden floods in recent weeks, linked to the El Niño climate phenomenon, leading to dozens of deaths and large-scale displacement, particularly in Somalia, where heavy rains have destroyed bridges and inundated residential areas.
Mahmoud Maalim Abdullah, the head of the National Disaster Management Authority in Somalia, stated at a press conference on Monday that "fifty people lost their lives in the disaster, while 687,235 people were forced to flee their homes." He warned that "the expected rains between November 21 and 24 could lead to more flooding, which could result in deaths and destruction."
Meanwhile, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Saturday that the number of displaced persons due to heavy rains and flooding in Somalia has "almost doubled in a week," with a total of 1.7 million people affected by the disaster.
