Metro

Months of Deadly floods force thousands of Somalians to flee

Published

12 months ago

May 13, 2023

Months of flooding in Somalia have forced thousands to flee their homes in the Beledweyne region after the River Shabelle burst its banks on Friday.

Reports in the Horn of Africa nation say torrential rains which have continued unabated for several months, have led to flooding in the area, causing damage to towns and villages.

A local media reports that the surging floodwaters in the southern regions of Somalia have caused more than 650,000 people to flee their homes this year alone, while the United Nations refugee agency, in a statement, said the flooding had caused food shortages, leading to an outbreak of killer diseases and increasing the risk of the coronavirus spreading in the country.

“More than 150,000 flood victims have become homeless since late June, including 23,000 in the past week,” UN officials reported.

“Weather forecasters have warned that the worst is not over. They predict the heavy rains and extreme flooding will continue for some time in certain regions and exacerbate the living conditions of the hundreds of thousands of displaced,” the report said.

Charlie Yaxley, the agency’s spokesman, said many of the displaced persons were living in “overcrowded and makeshift shelters with little protection from the harsh weather.”

“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.

“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 added.

A local resident, Abdihafid Mohamed Yusuf, who spoke to journalists, narrated his experience, saying:

“We fled from the flash floods that submerged the city like so many others. People ran out of the city to safety. For four days, the floods poured massively into the city.”

Related Topics:Featured Flooding Horn of Africa Somalia

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Metro

Sign language interpreter, Kunda, seeks inclusivity in media rights agenda

Published

4 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Akanimoh Etim

An inclusive society is crucial for a nation’s human and economic development in the modern era.

In this edition of Project Aliyense, we feature Paul Kunda, widely recognized as the face of sign language interpretation on national television, serving the deaf community.

Kunda, a dedicated sign language interpreter and educator with over four years of experience, sheds light on the significance of media freedom.

“As a sign language interpreter at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and a teacher by profession, I advocate for media freedom,” he said.

Kunda emphasised the importance of the Access to Information (ATI) Act, recently assented to by President Hakainde Hichilema, which empowered citizens to demand information freely.

He stressed the need for unhindered access to information to foster a civil and prosperous society.

Regarding digital rights, Kunda highlighted their critical role for the deaf community, given the transformative impact of digital platforms, especially when mainstream media access is limited.

“As a representative of the deaf community, I believe digital rights should be inclusive. Everyone, including persons with disabilities, should enjoy these rights through various devices to express themselves and participate in national discourse,” he asserted.

He also called for the recognition of sign language as the eighth national language, aligning with United Nations conventions that mandate sign language interpreters at all events to promote inclusivity.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.

Metro

Sign language interpreter, Kunda, seeks inclusivity in media rights agenda (video)

Published

5 hours ago

April 23, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

An inclusive society is crucial for a nation’s human and economic development in the modern era.

In this edition of Project Aliyense, we feature Paul Kunda, widely recognized as the face of sign language interpretation on national television, serving the deaf community.

Kunda, a dedicated sign language interpreter and educator with over four years of experience, sheds light on the significance of media freedom.

“As a sign language interpreter at Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) and a teacher by profession, I advocate for media freedom,” he said.

Kunda emphasised the importance of the Access to Information (ATI) Act, recently assented to by President Hakainde Hichilema, which empowered citizens to demand information freely.

He stressed the need for unhindered access to information to foster a civil and prosperous society.

Regarding digital rights, Kunda highlighted their critical role for the deaf community, given the transformative impact of digital platforms, especially when mainstream media access is limited.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.