Cyclone Sagar: Several dead, massive destruction in northern Somalia

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02:29

In Somalia, aid agencies are struggling to mitigate the effects of Cyclone Sagar, as the storm affected Puntland and Somaliland. CGTN's Abdulaziz Billow reports.

Pastoralists are counting losses after losing most of their animals to heavy rains and strong winds in the Awdal region in northern Somalia, along the border with neighboring Djibouti

This has been the scene across the region after a tropical cyclone known as Sagar landed in the Horn of Africa, causing heavy rains and massive displacements in both Somalia and Djibouti

ABDIRAHMAN ABDULLAHI ISMAIL DEPUTY PRESIDENT, SOMALILAND, SOMALIA "This is one of the affected areas, but we have seen areas more devastated than here. The strong winds and rains from the cyclone destroyed settlements near the sea and killed animals as a result. We are doing all we can to assist the vulnerable people."

Aid agencies say that more than thirty people have been confirmed dead with more than forty others unaccounted for, these children have nowhere to stay, their homes were destroyed by strong winds, forcing them to move to higher grounds.

Aid agencies say that heavy rains and subsequent flooding are hindering humanitarians' ability to access some of the areas affected by the cyclone. In Puntland, local authorities have been messaging people and advising fishermen not to venture into the sea due to strong winds.

It's the heaviest rainfall in three decades, prompting authorities to launch an urgent appeal of USD $80 million in a bit to assist close to a million people affected all across the country.

More than 10,000 families have reportedly been forced to move from their homes due to flooding. In Mogadishu, heavy downpour over the weekend claimed six lives.

The Mayor of Mogadishu says more than 300 homes were destroyed, including key roads, causing an estimated $35 million in losses, schools in central Somalia remains closed for close to a month after Shabelle River broke its banks displacing hundreds of thousands in Beledweyne.

Authorities say climate change is to blame for the recent losses, exactly a year ago, these pastoralists lost their livestock to a devastating drought considered the worst in six decades.

ABDULAZIZ BILLOW MOGADISHU Their wish for now is an immediate end to the rainy season, which they were longing for barely a few weeks ago. Abdulaziz Billow , CGTN.