Hirshabelle President and Regional MPs Visits Drenched Beledweyne Amidst Bewilderment and Explosive Confusion
Thursday May 11, 2023
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Beledweyne (AX)
A delegation, led by none other than the President of the Hirshabelle regional state, made their way to Beledweyne on Wednesday to tackle the strenuous task of inspecting the areas impacted by devastating flooding.
As the Shabelle River had incessantly breached its banks on Tuesday night, causing an array of significant damage and further displacement, the immediate arrival of the delegation was of utmost importance.
President Ali Hussein Guudlaawe, accompanied by regional parliament lawmakers, ministers, and the governor of Hiiraan Region, all played their part in visiting the Nurhawad bridge, along with some parts of the town’s villages where displacement was taking place due to the river flooding that had occurred over the last few hours.
Moreover, they also managed to squeeze in a visit to the Eljale area on the outskirts of the town, a crucial site where individuals fleeing the town were currently residing. Given its high ground, it is typically the go-to spot for residents when the river floods the town.
As the President embarked upon his visit, he spotlighted the fact that Beledweyne is perhaps facing its direst humanitarian situation yet, as most of the city’s population has been displaced, and a handful of people remain isolated in the suburbs. In light of this, he called on the Federal Government, Somali people, and international organizations to extend much-needed aid to the people of Beledweyne – a cry for help that cannot be ignored.
It is worth noting that the floods seemed to have notably affected the likes of Koshin, Howlwadaag, and Bundaweyn villages which had already been struck by floods back in 2019. Despite having built 64 dams all across the town as a means to thwart any possible flooding, there has been a string of recurring submergences over the past couple of years, signaling the town’s ineffectiveness in tackling the current flooding crisis.
