ENVIRONMENT AND DISASTERS

ADDIS ABABA — The most serious outbreak of locusts in 25 years is spreading across East Africa and posing an unprecedented threat to food security in some of the world’s most vulnerable countries, authorities say. Unusual climate conditions are partly to blame. The locust swarms hang like shimmering dark clouds on …

BELETWEYNE  — Farmers in central Somalia’s Hiran region, whose farms were submerged by recent floods, are having to contend with swarms of locust devouring whatever they have planted since then. Kadiye Abdi Gadod, a farmer in Hodug, 34 km west of Beletweyne town, told Radio Ergo that locust swarms have …

MOGADISHU (SoOHA) – A massive car bomb exploded in a busy area of Mogadishu on Saturday, leaving at least 78 people dead and scores injured in Somalia’s deadliest attack in two years. At least 16 of those killed were students from the capital’s private Banadir University, who had been traveling on …

MOGADISHU (SoOHA) – Around 3,000 families have fled their homes in villages in Bal’ad in southern Somalia’s Middle Shabelle region, after a dam on the River Shabelle burst. The floodwaters from the dam washed away homes in 16 villages, forcing people to seek help in the district town of Bala’d. …

MOGADISHU(SoOHA) – A group of Somali youth in Lower Shabelle’s agricultural town, Afgoye, have joined hands to build flood-barriers to protect their farms and houses from river floods. Flooding has already forced some families to evacuate their houses in Aytire and Balgure neighborhoods alongside the river Shabelle. Sid-Omar Siidow, the …

MOGADISHU (SoOHA) – Mogadishu administration Tuesday mobilized emergency response units following expected floods in the city which have since displaced hundreds of thousands countrywide. Banaadir Region governor who also doubles as Mogadishu Mayor Omar Mohamud Filish today unveiled fire engines, ambulances, police vehicles and response teams to coordinate emergency response during …

GAROWE (SoOHA) – A reduced-charcoal cooking stove being promoted by the Puntland government is cutting fuel costs for local families and starting to have a positive environmental impact. A total of 4,850 stoves have been distributed by the Puntland government in conjunction with the UN Development Programme (UNDP) to families …

AFGOYE (SoOHA) – Shebelle River floods in areas under the control of Afgoye District in Lower Shebelle region where flooding has affected farmers in the area, and local authorities arrived in the Lower Shebelle region observed the floods. Ibrahim Adan Ali, the governor of Lower Shebelle region and his entourage …

MOGADISHU (SoOHA) – At least 273,000 people had to flee severe flooding of the Shabelle River in Somalia, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) said in a report on Friday, Anadolu reports. Calling for urgent humanitarian aid, the report said residents of the worst-affected region of Beledweyne were “sheltering under trees or in emergency tents …

MOGADISHU (SoOHA) – At least 6,000 families have been displaced in Badale in southern Somalia’s Bay region after flash floods caused by torrential rain hit the town. Fadumo Moalim Abdirahman, from Horsed neighborhood, said she spent the whole night of 20 October in her house, submerged in water. Youth from …