Hiiraan Online Editorial
Tuesday, November 5, 2019

The perennial floods along the Shabelle and Juba basins and other parts of the country are again with us uprooting thousands of families from their homes, robbing them of livelihoods and at worst causing deaths. Evidently, Beletwein has particularly been prone to floods with recurring disastrous overflows. The hideous flooding that engulfed the entire city has left 7,500 families displaced with 350,000 people affected as reported by the Minister of education Abdullahi Godah Barre who is also a member of the relief and rescue committee. At least 21 people have been confirmed dead according to Hiiraan Regional Administration.
Besides the predictability of the floods-backed by briefs, alerts and reports from UN bodies among others, the response has also been very predictable and largely consistent. The Federal Government and regional governments often announce formation of ad hoc ministerial committees about a week into the flooding followed by appeals to the international community for support with the culmination of presidential tour to the seriously affected areas. This time, there has been a pledge of 500,000 US funds by the Federal government which has yet to reach in the hands of those in need. Giant telecom companies notably Hormud and Dahabshiil among others have already delivered much needed aid to Beledwein. Business community in Mogadishu and Puntland has also dispatched loads of disaster relief assistance.
Whereas the government has made efforts in leading the relief efforts in partnership with UN agencies and local organisations, the response is too little to late. The erratic accelerating climate change effects notwithstanding, it’s almost always predictable months away that floods will occur. In fact, one can easily without even the benefit of technology and advanced knowledge tell that a similar flood is eminent in the following year.