Heavy rain in north eastern Somalia have resulted in floods around in the town of Qardho leaving more than 800 internally displaced families in urgent need of aid. The Danish Refugee Council is ready to respond - providing drinking-water, shelter and emergency latrines.

The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) is the only international humanitarian agency operating in the Qardho IDP settlement in Puntland, Northeastern Somalia where heavy rain and floods are predicted to continue until mid June. 

“Being the only organization operational in the Qardho IDP settlement we have to respond quickly and effectively to this emergency situation. We have done a rapid assessment seizing the situation and we are ready to move in with drinking-water, shelter and emergency latrines to avoid the spread of diseases– those are the most urgent needs for the 5000 people who have lost belongings and in many cases homes in the heavy floods,” says Simon Nzioka, DRC Programme Director in Puntland, Somalia.

The floods will have a long-term effect in the IDP community.

“We are handling the most acute problems first – but the aid will continue in the time to come. The IDP families will need food and medicine and 200 houses have been lost completely and will have to be relocated on higher ground. DRC will offer the required emergency staff during this response,” says Simon Nzioka.

The increasing number of IDPs from south and central Somalia and the drought-affected communities in the Puntland region of Somailia represent a major humanitarian challenge.

“There is no doubt that there is a job to do in Puntland and especially in the Qardho settlement. The floods are just the most urgent problem in a situation that is already critical -  the pressure from an incresing number of new IDP’s from south and central Somalia is felt in this area, says Simon Nzioka.

Qardho started to receive IDPs in 1988, most of them fleeing fighting in northern Somalia during Siyad Barre’s regime and others escaping conflict and drought in eastern Ethiopia.  Since then the traditional survival mechanisms for internally displaced people are slowly depleting.

 

 

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