United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep sorrow and distress over the news of hundreds of people killed and others affected by severe floods in Burundi, Kenya, Somalia, Tanzania, and other parts of East Africa. This was stated in a release by the spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Stéphane Dujarric, according to the official UN website.
The UN Secretary-General extended his condolences to the governments and peoples of the affected countries, especially the families of those who have died or were injured in this disaster. He mentioned that the United Nations and its partners are closely working with national authorities to meet humanitarian needs, confirming that the United Nations is prepared to offer additional assistance during this difficult time.
Furthermore, the Secretary-General expressed his profound concern about the effects of extreme weather caused by the El Niño phenomenon, which threatens further destruction of communities and undermines their livelihoods.
The recent floods in East Africa have had devastating effects, impacting multiple countries across the region. In Kenya, the floods have caused significant displacement and damage. The Kenya Red Cross reported the deaths of at least 15 people, displacement of 4,000 families, and extensive damage to both livestock and agricultural land due to the floods. Similarly, in Somalia, over 113,000 people have been displaced during the current rainy season, and the flooding has affected nearly 537,000 individuals in total. In Ethiopia, more than half a million people have been affected by flash floods in the Somali region.
The situation is exacerbated by the fact that these floods follow a severe drought, the worst in 40 years, affecting the same regions. This juxtaposition of extreme weather events highlights the vulnerability of these regions to climate variability, which is often intensified by phenomena such as El Niño. This year, El Niño and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole have been blamed for the unusually heavy rainfall, which has led to the current flooding.
