Somalia: Balad, Afgoye farmers to rehabilitate Saboon barrage

By Abdirashid M. Dahir

Committee for Balad and Afgooye farmers has decided to carry out renovation works on Sabuun barrage near Jowhar, visiting the drainage basin supplying into the barrage at Hawadley point on April 23.

Farmers who truck their agricultural products mainly to Mogadishu have reeled under dry Shabelle River for a month. Haji Nasir Ali Ahmed from Afgoye and Balad Cooperative farmers Society said, the farmers of the two Shabelle would repair former facility that in the past stored water for the irrigation of farmland hectares.

Ethiopia – Government Announces New Flood Prevention Measures [Floodlist]

Ethiopia’s National Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency has announced that the government has set up new measures to protect inhabitants from river flooding in flood-prone areas as the country expects above-normal rainfall in the annual rainy season, locally known as the “belg” rains.

Top commissioner Mitiku Kasa revealed that preparations are underway to shield residents in Aftaki area in Somali region, Woldia town in Amhara region, South Omo and Siltee zones in Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s state, towns around River Awash in Oromia region, and Mille and Gawane areas in Afar region, Ethiopian News Agency reported on 15 April.

Somalia – Flash Floods in 2 Regions Leave 9 Dead

Torrential rainfall in Somalia has triggered deadly flash floods in 2 regions of the country in the last week. Despite the recent rainfall, many parts of the country, in particular northern areas, are suffering from the worst drought in years. UNICEF recently announced it is providing 50,000 households with access to safe water.

Flash Floods in Awdal Region

Heavy downpours brought flash floods to northwestern town of Dilla on 07 April, leaving six people dead and injuring nine others, Awdal Governor Mohamud Ali Saleban has confirmed.

The rain and flooding continued for hours, wreaking havoc in the town and inundating vast tracts of land. The torrential rain is a dramatic swing from the drought conditions that have affected the area where deaths from malnutrition have been reported since March this year.