Recent Flood Disasters Around The World

Tanzania

20 people have been killed and hundreds left homeless in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania by floods that occurred on the 20^th December 2011. The floods were caused by the heaviest rainfall the country has witnessed since 1961. Dar es Salaam is the main economic city of Tanzania; the floods bought the city to a standstill. Rain is predicted to continue over the next few days, leading to warnings being given out to the population living in the valleys of the city. According to witnesses and reports, several homes and bridges have been destroyed or damaged and main roads have been flooded making them impassable.

Temporary shelters have been set up for those left homeless by the floods. According to reports, at least 5000 people have been displaced by the floods. Several people were left with nothing when their homes were flooded.

Uganda

Torrential rainfall that started on 11^th November and has continued into December has caused severe flooding in Uganda. Several homes have been flooded and damaged causing people to flee. According to reports at least 15,000 people have been affected and left homeless. The affected people are staying in temporary accommodations and appealing to the government for aid. Several crops have also been flooded.

Kenya

24 people have been killed and 98,000 displaced during floods caused by heavy rainfall in Kenya on 13^th December 2011. Severe destruction has been caused to infrastructure and homes by these floods. The homeless are sheltering in temporary accommodation, too afraid to return to their homes. The floods have followed the long drought in the country. Western Kenya has been hit the hardest, where bridges have been destroyed and roads have been made impassable.

Several people have also been left without food, when their farms flooded. A humanitarian effort by the Kenyan Red Cross is underway to rescue the victims.

An assessment to show the magnitude of the damage caused is underway.

Sri Lanka

11,000 people have been displaced in Sri Lanka by floods on 22^nd December. The political condition of the country has caused victims of the floods to suffer further, with no infrastructure to take care of those affected. Heavy rain and floods have affected the low lying district of Ki”linochchi. Although a few victimes have been provided with temporary shelters, several families have been left on their on terms to find accommodation with family or friends. Homes have been destroyed and farmland flooded.

Australia

1 person has been killed and over 60 displaced by floods caused in Australia on 29^th November. Hundreds of farms and rural properties in Moree and Wee Waa have been flooded and left isolated. Severe rains lead to the River Mehi flooding. Several roads have also been flooded and lead to their closure. An evacuation order was given to the residents of Moree and temporary shelters have been set up for those displaced. Hundreds of communities have been left isolated by the floods.

Columbia

Nearly 500 people have been killed in Columbia’s worse flooding in 40 years. The flood that occurred on 25^th November left 595 people injured and 43 missing. 16,200 houses were destroyed by floods and landslides along with more than 550,000 damaged. Thousands of people have been left homeless. According to official figures, 90% or 39.6 million of the population live in high risk areas, prone to floods and landslides. The region of Bolivar is said to be the worse affected including the city of Cartagena. Temporary shelters have been set up for the most vulnerable. The country has been affected by heavy rainfall and landslides in recent months. Several homes and infrastructures have been destroyed, including main roads and several people have been displaced since the floods have begun.

By Saajeda Bandali