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UN: Almost 500,000 affected as devastating floods inundate central Somalia
02.05.2018 13:54 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) —
As of yesterday, a number of UN agencies’ representatives spoke at the UN telling about Central Somalia catastrophic situation and urging governments worldwide to raise their aid to the affected country, Ukrinform reports.
The magnitude of rainfall has been much worse than anticipated, said Yngvil Foss, the deputy head at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Somalia.
«Initially, all humanitarian actors started responding with the means and assets they had available,» she said, noting that UN relief agencies have been able to raise funding over the past week to scale up critical interventions.
As to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative report, the current floods are some of the worst the region has ever seen, and the current water level exceeds a 50-year return period within most locations.
«Internally displaced people remain the most vulnerable to the impact of the flooding with many camps located in low-lying areas,» Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General said, briefing reporters in New York on Monday.
«Humanitarian partners on the ground have prioritized water, sanitation, hygiene, [health,] shelter and food response in their interventions,» he added.
The heavy rains and flash floods come only months after a devastating drought left over six million people in need of humanitarian assistance last year.
It is to be admitted, upon whole, the devastating flash floods across large parts of the country that have impacted nearly 500,000 people and displaced close to 175,000 from their homes.
However, at same time, the officials admit more funds is desperately needed to prevent the boosting numbers of internally-displaced.
Thus, Somalian President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed «Farmajo» visited flood affected areas and appealed to the international community for urgent humanitarian assistance.
In meanwhile, all the UN agencies within Somalia stepped up their efforts to combat the disaster consequences.
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