Somalia floods: Death toll climbs to 96, around 700,000 displaced

The death toll from floods resulting from heavy rains in Somalia has risen to 96, according to the state news agency SONNA on Saturday.

The update, confirmed by Mahamuud Moallim, the head of the country’s disaster management agency, was shared on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Somalia, like the rest of the East and Horn of Africa, has experienced severe rainfall since October, due to the El Nino and Indian Ocean Dipole weather phenomena. These climate patterns influence ocean surface temperatures, leading to above-average rainfall, according to Reuters.

The ongoing flooding is considered the most severe in decades, displacing approximately 700,000 people, according to the United Nations.

The intense rains have caused widespread flooding throughout the country, exacerbating an existing humanitarian crisis stemming from years of insurgency.

In neighboring Kenya, the floods have claimed the lives of 76 people, as reported by the Kenyan Red Cross.

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has noted extensive displacement, road and bridge destruction, and shortages of shelter, drinking water, and food supplies, further intensifying the humanitarian challenges in the region.

With inputs from agencies