HOW INADEQUATE TOWN PLANNING INTENSIFIED IMPACT OF FLOODS IN QARDHO

[Deeq A.]

Qardho (PPM) — The torrential rains that caused floods in Qardho on Monday evening had resulted in displacement, loss of life and wealth. Puntland State Government has appointed a disaster response committee tasked to assess the damage wrought by floods.

Since 1993 Qardho has been undergoing expansion spurred by population  increase. Like other towns of Puntland State Qardho has benefitted from economic growth triggered by enterprising internally displaced people from Southern Somalia and other districts of Bari region before and after Qardho had become an adminstrative capital of Karkaar, a new region created by Puntland.

Geographically Qardho is located between two watercourses (tog in Somali). A bridge spans over the watercourse between Qardho and Garowe districts. Rain water flows under the bridge. The distance between the bridge and Qardho safeguards the district against floods. The second watercourse runs through Qardho. A concrete watercourse (known as buundo jiif) able to withstand rainfloods has been on the road to Bosaso. Cars and Lorries wait for rainfloods to run their course before resuming a journey.

Before the district expanded locals had left the watercourse unaffected by town planning. They knew building houses or offices along the watercourse was to put oneself at the mercy of roaring seasonal floods that meander through the semi-desert terrain of Bari region before flowing into the Indian Ocean.

President Said Abdullahi Deni (second from right) visiting Qardho neighbourhoods affected by floods

The watercourse in Qardho proved an ideal place to build houses, offices and business premises. Some businesses near the watercourse have built an annex along the watercourse while the area was becoming a much sought after spot for developers.

Two factors have contributed to the devastating impact of rainfloods in Qardho. 1- The  local government has failed to discharge its duty not to issue planning permits for an area known to be a natural watercourse for seasonal rain water. 2- Low rainfall for the last ten years has lulled locals into a false sense of security.

Rainfloods did not cause damage of similar scale in the district before the watercourse had become a local neighbourhood of Qardho. Houses, schools, parks, business premises and the market built on the watercourse force rainfloods to bifurcate into two parts of the district. One part of  floods affected a part of Qardho not too far from the watercourse. Houses diverted floods to other other neighbourhoods of Qardho. The second part of floods damaged most buildings built on what was once the district watercourse.

The absence of disaster mitigation policy along with inadequate town planning had intensified the impact of rainfloods. While the impact of rainfloods on the neighbourhood of the watercourse was foreseeable, it was difficult to plan for the district-wide impact of floods.  How lessons from the devastating rainfloods will inform planning and relocation decisions remains unclear. Allowing families and businesses affected by floods to return to the watercourse area is as dangerous as leaving the watercourse as it is now — clogged with properties and other amenities. Rainfloods will cause more displacement and loss of life as long as the one-time natural watercourse gets referred to as a Qardho neighbourhood .

© Puntland Post Monthly,  2020

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