An estimated 21,000 people have been displaced by floods in Beletweyne, in the Hiran region, South-central of Somalia. Seasonal torrential rains experienced in the region for the last two weeks have seen River Shebelle break its banks, leaving hundreds of families displaced and in need of urgent assistance. The affected families have settled in temporary shelters at a camp close to the AMISOM base camp, North Eastern Beletweyne. The victims are appealing for urgent help from the local administration and international relief agencies to assist them, fearing for the health of the most vulnerable, especially newly born children, expectant and newly delivered mothers and the elderly. Halima Ahmed Abdi, a flood victim, said "I am requesting my brothers out there, to please come to our rescue. You can see what has befallen us. We and the animals are in the hot sunshine in this garage and you can see our houses on the opposite side are submerged. We appeal for help. We need to spray mosquitoes in our homes and appeal for all the help we can get." The AMISOM Djiboutian contingent is providing support to the locals, but with massive logistical challenges. AMISOM's Djiboutian Contingent Major Ali Hussein said "as AMISOM we are looking at all the help we can offer. We are looking at how we can evacuate them or offer medication, but they need much more than that. On the side of the food and so on, they are being provided with clean water by the use of water tankers but they need food and medicines urgently. There is possibility of water borne diseases outbreak, and they don't have sanitation facilities." The victims are now living in makeshift structures set up in Beletweyne town. Anab Hassan Osman said "we need food, we need shelter. We are being attacked by mosquitoes. I just gave birth 5 days and the situation is not good." Aid agencies have warned that the floods are likely to worsen the already fragile food security situation, with at least 1 million people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance across Somalia. A statement by the Food Agriculture Organization released last week indicates that the floods have left large areas with crops submerged, further exposing the population to food insecurity.

• published: 07 Nov 2014
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