The town of Jowhar and its environs have been isolated from the rest of the country due to the floods. Its transport system has been suspended for weeks triggering a surge in the prices of essential commodities foodstuffs in the town.

The flooding has caused a major humanitarian crisis especially among the poor people living in villages along Shabelle River who require accommodation, food and medical assistance.

"I really saw something very difficult with my own eyes today,” the Prime Minister said after the visit to the town even as he commended the resilience and solidarity shown by the residents.

 He said the resilience has played a significant role in saving the lives of families and vulnerable people in the affected areas.

Data released by the United Nations on June 3, shows that the flooding has affected about 400,000 people in 14 districts since late April, out of which 101,300 people have been displaced from their homes.

Most affected people are in Middle Shabelle region where floods in Jowhar district have displaced 66,000 people from 27 villages, destroyed over 40,000 hectares of farmland, disrupted learning in 12 schools and damaged 82 per cent of infrastructures. In Belet Weyne town, flooding caused by river breakages displaced nearly 22,000 people and destroyed 1,235 hectares of farmland. Humanitarian partners have scaled up assistance, reaching at least 82,000 affected people with lifesaving assistance including food, water and sanitation, hygiene, health and shelter.

The Prime Minister said his government will focus on how to prevent floods, provide a comprehensive solution to the problems of flooding in future and to reach out to the civilian population in Hirshabeelle

The visit comes after the HirShabelle administration had accused the federal government of ignoring the effects of the flooding in the region and halting funding provided by international donors to assist those affected.

Hir-Shabeelle region’s Interior Minister Mohamed Ali Adle said last month said the federal government particularly the Ministry of Health was responsible for the scaling down of the development and response of floods in the region.

The Jowhar City Commissioner has appealed for immediate address on the effects of the flooding as families displaced are without food.The essential commodities whose prices have gone up are flour, rice, Sugar and oil all which make up straple food in Somalia. This has affected families displaced in Jowhar most of who are farmers whose harvests that were due in few weeks were destroyed by the raging floods.

Prices of flour that have gone up by up to 40 per cent. Previously traded for $22 (Twenty-two dollars) before the floods, today buyers are being charged up to $28 (Twenty-eight dollars), while prices for rice has gone up by 2 dollars to retail at 28 dollars from 26 dollars while sugar is retailing at 34 dollars from $27 (Twenty eight dollars).

Adle pointed out that the period of implementing the flood control project was delayed by  the federal ministry of finance, amid the River had already broken its banks.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by members of both houses of parliament during the visit .