Thousands displaced by rains and clashes

(IRIN) – Renewed militia fighting and heavy rains in Somalia’s central regions of Hiiraan and Galgadud have forced thousands of people to abandon their homes, say officials.

Locals told IRIN fresh fighting between pro-government Ahlu Sunna Waljama’a – a traditional Sufi movement – and Al-Shabab broke out in Galgadud region on 3 June and continued for two days.

“Our estimate is that about 5,000 families [30,000] have fled the towns of Dusamareb, Eil Dheer, Mareer Gur and Gadon and Bula’le and are now displaced,” Abdulkadir Mohamud, an official of a local NGO known as Towfiq, said in Dusamareb, the regional capital.

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