MOGADISHU (Halbeeg News) – More than 650,000 people fled their homes this year following floodwaters in the southern regions of Somalia.
In a statement, U.N. refugee agency said the displacement of these could increase the risk of the coronavirus spreading in the Horn of Africa nation.
U.N. refugee agency spokesman Charlie Yaxley said many of the newly displaced are living in overcrowded, makeshift shelters with little protection from the harsh weather.
He stated that families are exposed to increased risk of crimes such as robbery and rape.
“Food is in short supply and many are going hungry with rising malnutrition in children, leaving them at risk of starvation,” he said.
He said sanitary conditions are poor and access to medical care is scarce and health partners warn of a risk of diarrhea, vector-borne diseases, respiratory-tract infections and other communicable diseases rapidly spreading amongst the displaced population.
Yaxley says the UNHCR and other humanitarian agencies are not able to reach those areas and deliver assistance. He says the many people living there are largely left to fend for themselves.
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