Hiiraan Online
Sunday, May 3, 2015
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JOWHAR (HOL) ---- After weeks of flood fears in the agricultural Middle Shabelle region, the Shabelle River burst its banks, flooding villages and destroyed homes, with authorities increasingly concerned about the possibility of more floods because the new rain that raised the river's water levels.
With no rescue teams to deal with the emergency humanitarian disasters, residents used woody boats to help their fellow residents trapped in the flooded villages.
Mahaday district is reported to be the most affected with more than 200 families fled from their homes. The new river floods also formed lakes across the district, raising fears of floods surging towards new areas.
The floods also cut off key roads in the region, bringing business movements to standstill, according to region's officials, the rainfall forecast is pointing towards increased rainfall across the country with most places expected heavy downpours for the coming days.
In 2013, the region has experienced the worst floods that laid Jowhar, the provincial capital under waters that has led to the loss of human life, destruction of crops and loss of hundreds livestock. Water borne diseases also killed dozens during the disaster.
The impoverished horn of Africa nation lacks capacity to deal with natural disasters after more than two decades of civil war that destroyed the country's economic infrastructure.
The country often relies on aid agencies to copy with the natural disasters; with UN officials often accuse local officials of corruption that may hamper efforts to reach the victims of catastrophes.