Africa

Heavy Flooding Devastates

Lives and Economies in Horn
of Africa
By Lisa Schlein
November 03, 2019 09:30 AM

Civilians displaced by flooding gather at a military helicopter to receive relief support in

Gumuruk, Boma state, in the Greater Upper Nile region of South Sudan, Nov. 1, 2019.

GENEVA - United Nations and private agencies are scaling up life-saving

humanitarian operations in response to severe flooding across large parts
of the Horn of Africa.  

Massive flooding following months of unusually heavy rainfall is wreaking

havoc in Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan and Ethiopia.  The United Nations
reports hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced, tens of
thousands of livestock have been killed, property has been destroyed and
livelihoods shattered.

Jens Laerke, the spokesman for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of
Humanitarian Affairs, says an estimated 220,000 of the more than half a
million flood-affected people in Ethiopia are homeless.  

“In South Sudan, flooding since July has affected more than 900,000
people, including internally displaced people, refugees and the host
communities where they live," he said.  "The rains are likely to continue in
South Sudan for another four to six weeks and put more people at risk.  We
anticipate considerable damage to crops, arable land and livestock.”  

Even before the rains began, Laerke says more than 3 million people were
in need of humanitarian assistance.  He says that number is likely to
increase, especially as more than 60% of flood-affected counties are facing
extreme levels of acute malnutrition.

Similar scenarios of devastation are playing out in Somalia and Kenya.  The
United Nations says all four countries urgently need life-saving aid to
recover from this disaster.

Priority needs include food, water, shelter and health care services.
 Agencies warn the flooding is causing an upsurge in waterborne diseases,
malaria and cholera.  They say health promotion campaigns targeting
flood-affected communities must be accelerated   to prevent these
illnesses from spreading.

The United Nations is appealing to international donors for funds to

support life-saving operations.  A total assessment of needs has not yet
been made.  However, Laerke says the amount of money required will be
substantial.  For example, he said the U.N. estimates that South Sudan
alone will require $35 million in emergency aid.