Amid crippling drought, heavy rains now wreak havoc in Wajir

An aerial view of a village in Wajir County. FILE PHOTO | DENISH OCHIENG | NMG

What you need to know:

  • Flooding has disrupted transport and business activity in some parts of Wajir County.
  • Part of the bridge linking Wajir to Moyale County has been swept away, consequently affecting movement to Ethiopia by road.
  • The floods come after the region experienced prolonged drought that led to loss of livestock in the community.

The heavy rainfall that is being witnessed in Ethiopia has resulted in flooding in some parts of Wajir County, dealing another blow to residents still grappling with loss of livestock caused by a prolonged dry spell.

This is according to an official, area chief Abdikadir Dayib, who said flood waters were sweeping through some areas through the Laga stream that originates in Ethiopia.

Due to the rains, half of Buna town is flooded, affecting both business activities and movement of people.

β€œThe heavy rains have greatly affected learning activities in the area. Today pupils failed to report to school,’’ the head teacher of Buna Primary school Abdullahi Hassan told the Nation.

Over 500 households in the area are currently overrun by floods, with part of the bridge linking Buna to Moyale having been swept away - affecting movement of motor vehicles to Ethiopia.

The floods are only the latest natural disaster to hit residents of Wajir, coming after a long period of drought that led to loss of animals for the predominantly pastoralist community.

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