16 killed, more than 200K affected by rains in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) in Somalia said Wednesday that at least 16 people have died and more than 200,000 have been affected by torrential rains and floods since the April-June rains began.

The most affected area has been the northeastern state of Puntland where heavy downpours April 27 killed eight people and displaced more than 22,000.

At least six died and 22,000 were affected by floods in central Galmudug, according to the UN.

And in the South West State, 100,000 have been affected while more than 11,800 families have been displaced in Lower Juba region, in Jubaland.

"The ongoing Gu’ flooding will exacerbate the humanitarian situation, joining the COVID-19 pandemic and locust infestation to form a Triple Threat," the UN said, using the Somali name for the rainy season.

Somalia recorded 38 new coronavirus cases Wednesday, bringing the total to 873 while the number of deaths reached 39.