MOGADISHU, May 20 (Xinhua) -- The Somali government and humanitarian partners have ramped up assistance to thousands of people affected by flash floods across the country, a United Nations relief agency said on Tuesday.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said the government has constituted a committee that includes ministers, regional officials, and the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) to spearhead the response.
"In addition, the government, through SoDMA, plans to provide food assistance to 300 households," the OCHA said in its latest update on floods released in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
The OCHA said other charities are also providing food baskets, while others are distributing food and non-food items to 4,000 flood-affected households in the Banadir region, and have so far reached 1,000 families in Wadajir, Hodan, and Waberi districts.
According to the OCHA, at least 84,000 people have been affected, with at least 17 killed due to heavy rains and flooding.
The OCHA said six major roads were submerged in the capital, Mogadishu, and operations at the international airport were temporarily disrupted by the flash floods on May 9 and 10, noting that some partners reported operational challenges due to the closure of key roads and difficulties accessing people in need.
