Sunday November 24, 2024
FILE PHOTO
Beledweyne (HOL) — Rising waters from the Shabelle River have flooded multiple areas north of Beledweyne over the past two days, intensifying fears of widespread flooding in the Hiiran and Middle Shabelle regions.
Floodwaters have engulfed the villages of Deefow, Qooqane, and Lafoole, displacing residents and destroying vast agricultural lands poised for harvest, according to local reports.
Mohamed Abdullahi, a farmer from Qooqane, 16 kilometres from Beledweyne, stated, “The people were displaced by the floods and fled to the mountains. The floodwaters completely washed away my farm and others. There are no fields left.”
Flooding in Beledweyne is a recurring crisis exacerbated by climate change and insufficient infrastructure along the Shabelle River. The annual deluge often leaves thousands homeless and disrupts livelihoods dependent on agriculture.
Humanitarian organizations and local authorities have renewed calls for long-term solutions, including strengthening riverbanks to mitigate flooding, promoting sustainable agricultural practices, and establishing robust disaster management systems.