Heavy El Niño-related rainfall in parts of Puntland’s Raas Caseyr region has damaged critical road infrastructure, disrupting transport links between several towns and settlements that depend on these routes for daily movement and access to essential services.
Among the affected roads are those connecting Lafagoray, Xoogaad, Afqad, Hursale and Dhabaaqa.
The Lafagoray route has been completely cut off after floodwaters washed away sections of the road, leaving it impassable to vehicles.
The damage has raised concerns about the impact on residents, traders and transport operators, particularly those relying on road networks to move people, deliver goods and access basic services.
The closure of key routes could also make it more difficult for communities to receive assistance and transport supplies.
Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni recently acknowledged that El Niño rains had caused damage to economic infrastructure across Raas Caseyr, indicating that the destruction extends beyond the roads currently reported to be impassable.
Restoring access to the affected areas will require an assessment of the damage and repairs to the damaged sections.
Authorities will also need to establish the full extent of the destruction and identify the resources required to rehabilitate the region’s transport network.
The disruption highlights the vulnerability of local infrastructure to heavy seasonal rainfall and the importance of investing in durable roads and effective disaster preparedness measures.
For communities across Raas Caseyr, restoring the damaged routes is essential to reconnecting settlements and ensuring the continued movement of people, goods and essential services.