Devastating Floods Claim Lives in Kenya and Somalia

In the latest developments, Kenya and Somalia are grappling with the devastating aftermath of heavy rains and flash floods, resulting in the tragic loss of a dozen lives and the displacement of over hundreds of a thousand individuals.

Over 40 individuals have lost their lives, and more than 113,000 have been displaced due to intense rainfall and flash floods in Kenya and Somalia. In response to the crisis, the Somali federal government declared a state of emergency after 14 fatalities, with emergency teams striving to rescue approximately 2,400 individuals trapped by floods in the Luuq district. The United Nations has urged the evacuation of residents along the Juba River, highlighting the high flood risk there and along the Shabelle River.

Meanwhile, in Kenya, the Red Cross reported 15 casualties, along with the destruction of 97 hectares of farmland and the loss of 1,067 animals due to flooding. Despite warnings from Kenyan weather forecasters since September about heavy precipitation during the country's rainy season (October to December), President William Ruto contradicted these predictions, denying the likelihood of devastating El Nino flooding.

This situation unfolds a year after the Horn of Africa grappled with its most severe drought in approximately 40 years, leading to 43,000 deaths and pushing Somalia towards famine, exacerbated by elevated food prices resulting from the conflict in Ukraine. The adverse weather conditions also impacted the Somali region of Ethiopia, causing crop failures and displacing thousands from their homes.

_{Source: AP, VOA}