(ERGO) – Dekeye Jama Salad, a mother of five, told Radio Ergo that she and her family were lucky to survive as torrential rains caused massive flash flooding in northeastern Somalia’s Qardho town on 28 April.
The floods brought down their four-room brick house, forcing them to take refuge in the open compound of Waddaniya Secondary School, along with other families who lost their homes in this part of Puntland.
“Until now we haven’t seen anyone visiting us or coming to monitor the situation. We don’t have access to water and sanitation facilities are pathetic, we don’t have enough food, except some little donations by local well-wishers. It is Ramadan, people are fasting, and the government has not supported us,” lamented Dekeye, after six nights out in the cold.
Dekeya told Radio Ergo she has a neurological disorder. Her maternal uncle, who lives with them, suffers from mental illness and is currently nowhere to be found since the disaster struck.
Mahado Ali Muse lives in Hingood Hoose to the south of Qardho. She was also displaced by the floods and is camped out at Azhar School compound. She said she has nothing left in her house. Her family is sleeping in deplorable conditions under the narrow overhanging roof of a classroom, with five other families totalling 23 people.
“We have been here for five days and there has been no help. We have no access to water, we don’t have food to break our fast, we don’t have blankets, and we sleep outdoors at night,” Mahado said.
Some of the thousands of families affected went to stay with relatives, whilst others are temporarily camped in schools trying to shelter from the rains.
Provision of food is still a challenge, let alone recovery and resettlement. But the local authorities say they are doing what they can.
Abdi Said Osman, the mayor of Qardho, who is also the spokesperson of the flood relief committee set up by the Puntland state government, told Radio Ergo that they have set up an office to handle complaints and ensure people receive the necessary food aid.
“Some grievances exist; there are many people that haven’t been reached, and there are those who were skipped over. All those people complaining should go to that office and we will distribute food to them,” the mayor said.
Since the displacement of people in the town, 2,500 families have so far received assistance. The flood relief committee distributed food aid packages consisting of 25kg of wheat flour, 25 kg of sugar, 25 kg of rice, 10 kg of spaghetti, five litres of cooking oil, and three kg of dates, along with non-food items such as blankets and bedding for each family.
Abdulqafar Hange, Minister for Planning and International Cooperation, said an estimated total of 8,000 families were affected by the floods, with 3,500 of them now left homeless.
Puntland’s Environment, Agriculture and Climate Change Minister, Ismail Diriye Gama, told Radio Ergo that his ministry and the Puntland State Humanitarian Affairs and Disasters Management Agency (HDMA) are warning of more heavy rains in the coming days.
