By Dawan Africa - Reporter
Beledweyne(Mogadishu24)-Residents of Beledweyne are facing severe consequences as heavy rains have cut off major roads connecting the town to other cities, leading to shortages in the supply of food items.
This shortage in supply has resulted in a sharp increase in the cost of living, with food prices increasing as the availability of essential goods has become scarce.
Shelves in local stores are nearly empty as basic necessities such as rice, flour, and cooking oil are in short supply, causing concern among the population.
The heavy rains and flooding of the Shabelle River have left local shop owners struggling to restock their items due to logistical challenges caused by flooded roads. Consequently, they have increased the prices of the remaining food items in the shops.
Mr. Abdi Barre Ayrow, a hotel owner, stated that basic commodities have increased in shops, significantly impacting the livelihoods of residents in all sectors.
“The prices of food items have increased; for example, we used to buy spaghetti for $8, but it is now $13. A sack of rice was $16, and now it’s $21. This increase is a result of flooded roads that have impacted the movement of goods from town to town,” said Mr. Ayrow.
He added, “Local shops are now running out of stock because some commodities were submerged in water, and the remaining items are skyrocketing, making it a struggle to make ends meet.”
Mustafa Abdi Sooyaan described the situation in Beledweyne, stating that there have also been illnesses caused by rainwater.
“We are facing a very critical situation in Beledweyne due to the scarcity of essential food items. We are having shortages in basic necessities such as rice, milk, and even water. Unfortunately, the rainwater is not consumable, and we’ve witnessed cases of children falling ill after drinking it. To get secure water, we have to carry it from the wells on our backs.”
“Prices in hotels have also increased, with a cup of tea that used to cost $0.20 now priced at $0.40. The floods have made it increasingly difficult for hotels to prepare meals, as everything, including their cooking supplies, has been submerged,” he stated.
Federal members of parliament from the Hiiraan region convened a crisis meeting on Saturday to address the humanitarian situation of residents in Beledweyne city.
The members of parliament collectively called on the federal government, state government, international community, Somali business people, and the diaspora community to secure additional support for the affected people.
Local authorities, the federal government, international organizations, and relief agencies are mobilizing resources to address the immediate actions needed to respond to the situation.
On Saturday, Beledweyne Hospital was submerged in water following the overflow of the Shabelle River in the city, affecting the hospital’s operations and the provision of healthcare services.
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