Mogadishu Mobilizes Emergency Response in Light of Looming Heavy Rains

On Tuesday, the Mogadishu administration rallied emergency response units to move around the city providing much-needed help following heavy floods, which have displaced thousands of Somalis around the country from their homes.

Today, the Governor of the Banaadir Region, who is also the Mayor of Mogadishu – Omar Mohamud Filish – unveiled ambulances, fire engines, police vehicles, and response teams. He expects them to coordinate all emergency response efforts until the end of the heavy rains.

On Monday, Zakia Hussein, the deputy police commander, released an alert asking the city residents to be ready for heavy rains and flooding over the next few days. The chief of police asserted that the city’s administration was applying every possible mechanism and solution to provide the relief and humanitarian assistance the residents needed.

Several parts of the country have suffered heavy rains in the last 6-7 weeks. Riverine zones such as Jubba and Beletweyne have suffered more than other areas.

As per estimates, around 500,000 people felt the brunt of the heavy flooding in Beletweyne. Out of these, the flooding pushed 370,000 individuals out of their areas of residence.

According to the United Nations, roughly 85 percent of Beletweyne is submerged in floods. Several families are returning to their homes though many of these buildings are completely destroyed.

Last week, Mogadishu experienced brief rains, which hit the city’s drainage system terribly hard, thereby causing flooding and leading to the destruction of roads.