Lisa Schlein in Voice of America: The UN refugee agency reports heavy rains and flooding in parts of Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia are causing havoc among thousands of displaced Somalis in the region. The UNHCR says flood-damaged roads are hampering relief efforts to thousands affected by the heavy rains.More than 12 million people in the Horn of Africa are facing hunger and famine due to the worst drought to hit the region in 60 years.
The heavy rains in parts of the region are bringing some welcome relief to drought-hit areas. At the same time, they are creating a disaster of another sort. For instance, in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, the UN refugee agency reports the rains have flooded the shelters of nearly 3,000 people in a camp for displaced people. It says heavy downpours also have disrupted the transport system and slowed the pace of people fleeing their homes.
Nevertheless, UNHCR spokesman, Andrej Mahecic, says some people continue to leave. “In the last week, more than 2,200 people have moved from Afgooye corridor and Daynile north of Mogadishu, to areas south of the capital in Banadir district," said Mahecic. "Some say they fled due to general insecurity, while others were trying to return to their home areas in anticipation of deteriorating security.” ...
A Somali refugee camp in Eritrea, west of Massawa, in January 2011, shot by Reinhard Dietrich, Wikimedia Commons, under the Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication
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