Thousands have been rendered homeless in Somalia after river floods, triggered by days of heavy torrential downpour, hit parts of the eastern African country, Press TV reports.

The floods wrecked havoc in Somalia's central and southern regions while worst hit areas include the central region of Hiran and lower Jubba, where people and their animals have been swept away by floodwater.

Hundreds of houses have been washed down in the central town of Hiran and flooding forced the owners to take refuge in nearby villages.

Victims of the floods expressed concern that they would suffer from waterborne diseases if help was not coming soon.

According to people in Hiran province’s capital, Beledweyne, some 4,000 families are camping out in the cold after their houses were washed away, their livestock killed, and their crops destroyed.


Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud on Tuesday paid a visit to Beledweyne, appealing for more assistance from well-wishers to support the affected families.

“People in Beledweyne are mostly suffering because nobody is providing any alternative to them,” Ma’alim Bule Aden, one of the city’s residents, told Press TV.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has warned that some 3,500 families are facing a humanitarian crisis in Beledweyne.

Last year, drought affected around 10 million people in four countries of the Horn of Africa including Somalia.
Press TV