Up to 80,000 affected in Somali state floods

The Ogaden Welfare Society has appealed for assistance for 70,000 to 80,000 people affected by extensive flood damage caused when the Wabi Shabelle River burst its banks and covered the areas of Kelafo, Mustahil and Ferfer in the Gode Zone of the National Regional Somali State with 3-5 metres of flood waters in late October. Some 7,500 hectares of farmland were inundated, damaging crops and destroying traditional grains stores, which was “a serious setback for the population, which has been surviving with no rain and little food aid over the last year”, the UN Country Team in Addis Ababa reported. The most urgent needs reported were medical supplies and drugs, supplementary food, shelter materials and seeds.