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Somalia flood waters still rising | Somalia flood waters still rising |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Flood waters are still rising in southern Somalia, an aid worker in the area has told the BBC. | Flood waters are still rising in southern Somalia, an aid worker in the area has told the BBC. |
"Our hospital is surrounded by water," said Julie Neubuhr from medical aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres. | "Our hospital is surrounded by water," said Julie Neubuhr from medical aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres. |
She said aid workers were already treating cases of cholera and she feared a major outbreak of disease. | She said aid workers were already treating cases of cholera and she feared a major outbreak of disease. |
Aid agencies have launched an appeal to help some 1.8 million people affected by the floods in parts of Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia. | Aid agencies have launched an appeal to help some 1.8 million people affected by the floods in parts of Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia. |
The aid effort in Somalia is especially difficult because of the lack of infrastructure following 15 years of conflict and the absence of a central government. | The aid effort in Somalia is especially difficult because of the lack of infrastructure following 15 years of conflict and the absence of a central government. |
Refugee camps flooded | Refugee camps flooded |
Ms Neubuhr told the BBC's World Today programme that people were still arriving by boat as some villages were completely cut off. | Ms Neubuhr told the BBC's World Today programme that people were still arriving by boat as some villages were completely cut off. |
She was speaking from a clinic in Marere, near the Juba river, about 80km north of the port of Kismayo. | |
In pictures: Kenyan floods She said the waters had been rising for the past two weeks and aid workers were now setting up a camp on higher ground. | In pictures: Kenyan floods She said the waters had been rising for the past two weeks and aid workers were now setting up a camp on higher ground. |
The Shabelle and Juba rivers have both flooded their banks, affecting towns and villages in a swathe of territory stretching hundreds of kilometres. | The Shabelle and Juba rivers have both flooded their banks, affecting towns and villages in a swathe of territory stretching hundreds of kilometres. |
In eastern Kenya, the UN refugee agency has started to move thousands of Somali refugees, whose camps near Dadaab have been flooded. | In eastern Kenya, the UN refugee agency has started to move thousands of Somali refugees, whose camps near Dadaab have been flooded. |
The BBC's Bashkas Jugsodaay says some 35,000 new arrivals have agreed to move but a larger group, which has been there for 15 years, refuse to move to higher ground near Hagdera. | The BBC's Bashkas Jugsodaay says some 35,000 new arrivals have agreed to move but a larger group, which has been there for 15 years, refuse to move to higher ground near Hagdera. |
Some of them have built solid houses which they do not want to abandon. They instead want the UNHCR to build a dam to protect their camps. | Some of them have built solid houses which they do not want to abandon. They instead want the UNHCR to build a dam to protect their camps. |
Parts of the nearby town of Garissa are also underwater, with houses near the River Tana submerged. | Parts of the nearby town of Garissa are also underwater, with houses near the River Tana submerged. |
The floods have knocked out bridges and made roads impassable, meaning aid drops are the only way to deliver food. | The floods have knocked out bridges and made roads impassable, meaning aid drops are the only way to deliver food. |
One Somali refugee in Kenya told the BBC he and others were living in trees and were attacked by wild animals. | One Somali refugee in Kenya told the BBC he and others were living in trees and were attacked by wild animals. |
The floods in the Horn of Africa follow last year's droughts in the region. | The floods in the Horn of Africa follow last year's droughts in the region. |
That left the earth unable to absorb the heavy rains, leading to flash floods in Ethiopia, as well as Somalia and Kenya. | That left the earth unable to absorb the heavy rains, leading to flash floods in Ethiopia, as well as Somalia and Kenya. |
The UN has said the floods could be the worst in the region for 50 years. | The UN has said the floods could be the worst in the region for 50 years. |
The rains are expected to continue for another month. | The rains are expected to continue for another month. |
Have you been affected? Are you an aid worker? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Have you been affected? Are you an aid worker? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
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