Mother and Two Children Among Four Killed as Rainstorm Hits Somalia's Lower Shabelle

The storm lasted about four hours, flattening makeshift homes built from corrugated iron sheets. Several people were injured. Fadumo Mphamed, a local resident who joined the rescue efforts, said she rushed to help after a family's shelter collapsed. Rescuers recovered the bodies of a mother and her breastfeeding infant. Her 12-year-old son was pulled from the wreckage alive but later died from his injuries at a local hospital. A young boy from a neighbouring household was also killed. Many of those affected were internally displaced families who had fled drought and conflict elsewhere in Somalia. Having already lost their homes and livelihoods, they are once again facing uncertainty after the storm destroyed their temporary shelters. Officials from the Lower Shabelle regional administration and the chairperson of the Somali National Commission for Refugees and IDPs visited the affected areas following the disaster. Speaking to reporters, the commission's chairperson said authorities had been warning communities about the risks of heavy rainfall and strong winds associated with El Niño. "The little rain that fell was associated with El Niño, yet it caused this destruction. Even more severe conditions are expected, and IDPs across the country are likely to be among the worst affected," he said. He urged displaced families to avoid areas prone to flooding and other weather-related hazards. The deaths have drawn attention to the precarious conditions in which many displaced Somalis live. Shelters made from iron sheets and other temporary materials offer little protection against heavy rainfall and strong winds. For families who have already endured drought, hunger and conflict, the storm has brought another devastating setback. With authorities warning of further severe weather, the disaster highlights the urgent need for safer shelters, emergency assistance and effective early warning systems to protect displaced communities