Seasonal rains in Somalia and upstream in the Ethiopian highlands triggered flash floods that washed away homes, crops, and livestock, and temporarily closed schools and hospitals in Beledweyne, the capital of Hiraan region, local residents said. Beledweyne itself became like an ocean," said shopkeeper Ahmed Nur, whose business was washed away. Since mid-March the floods have affected more 460,000 nationwide and killed 22, according to the U.N. humanitarian office (OCHA). The Somali Disaster Management Agency said the floods in Beledweyne alone have caused the displacement of more than 245,000 people. "Recovery from six consecutive seasons of poor rainfall performance will take time," OCHA said in a May 14 report.

Source: Ethiopian News May 18, 2023 05:36 UTC