Thousands of households affected by tsunami

The tsunami triggered by an earthquake in the Indian Ocean that struck the Horn of Africa coastline just over a week ago has affected about 18,000 households of varying sizes in Somalia, the UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.

Many of those affected were living in small villages along the Somali coastline, particularly in the northeastern regions. Their lives were devastated by the waves, relief workers said.

In addition to loss of life, a large number of shelters were either damaged or destroyed, wells washed away and a large number of fishing boats and equipment lost.

"The fact that this time of the year coincides with the peak of the fishing season increases the number of those affected," one relief worker told IRIN. OCHA, in a situation report released on Monday, estimated that 54,000 people were directly affected.

In Jeriban and Eyl districts, 1,000 houses were either damaged or destroyed and around 1,200 boats ruined. All shallow wells were also reported buried, while water reservoirs were destroyed by the waves. In Bender Bayla, 180 houses were reported completely damaged, in addition to an estimated 1,400 boats.

Relief workers reported they were having difficulty in reaching various affected areas that stretch out along 650 km of Somali coastline. Existing road tracks had become impassable, while the main bridge linking Hafun peninsula to the land was washed away.

At the time the waves hit, the area was also heavily populated with migrant fishermen, since this is the peak season for the industry. Many of them were living in temporary shelters and have seen all their possessions washed away or damaged.

According to relief workers, their agencies were preparing to appeal for millions of dollars for the immediate needs of the affected people, especially water and sanitation since the sources for drinking water have been contaminated.

The bulk of the appeal, to be launched on Thursday, would cover logistics and means to improve access in order to ensure the delivery of relief supplies and rehabilitation materials.

Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) has started distributing food aid to thousands of those affected along the Somali coast. WFP staff were on Hafun peninsula, which was the area most affected area, Bander Beyla town, Jeriban district and another team was being sent to Alula district north of Hafun, WFP said in a statement on Tuesday.

Another 277 mt of food, it added, had been dispatched from the port town of Bosasso to assist 17,000 people, adding that Kulub village, 13 km from Gara'ad, had been badly damaged by the waves.

An estimated 150 people were killed in Somalia when the tsunami, triggered by an earthquake in the Indian Ocean, struck the Horn of Africa coastline. The tsunami waves also slammed into Tanzania, where at least 10 people, mostly children, died and Kenya, where at least one person died.

Damaged infrastructure was also reported in the Indian Ocean islands of the Seychelles and Madagascar.

The tsunami, caused by an earthquake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra on 26 December, hit coastal areas in the archipelago, as well as in Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Thailand, Indonesia, The Maldives, Malaysia and Myanmar. At least 150,000 people are believed to have been killed by the surging waves.