A flood crisis following torrential rains intensified by the El Niño weather phenomenon is overwhelming the country of Somalia.
The situation, which began at the beginning of November 2023, has escalated into a national emergency, with the Somali government making an official declaration in response to the unprecedented natural disaster.
Somalia has witnessed catastrophic flooding since the onset of the heavy seasonal Deyr rains. The impact is widespread, affecting Somalia’s central and southern states, including the Hiraan, Bakool, Bay, and Gedo regions.
Reports from the Somali Disaster Management Agency indicate that at least 96 people have lost their lives due to the floods, and nearly 700,000 people have been forced to abandon their homes.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) has raised alarms over the severity of the flooding, noting that over 1.77 million people have been affected. People have lost homes, properties, animals, and crops. The IRC emphasizes the urgent need for humanitarian aid, as the continued rainfall threatens to worsen the already dire circumstances. In addition to the loss of lives, the floods have caused extensive damage to infrastructure, including roads and bridges, and submerged vast tracts of farmland.
According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), up to 1.6 million people are at risk if the heavy rains persist. UNICEF reports that around 12 villages are completely isolated, accessible only by boats, and the level of needs far exceeds the current support being provided. The organization also highlights a significant funding shortfall, with the Somalia Humanitarian response plan only 26% funded, threatening critical water and sanitation provisions.
The IRC has actively supported affected communities, particularly in internally displaced camps. They have been reinforcing riverbanks and prepositioning essential items for the vulnerable. Critical help includes shelter, non-food items, and cash distribution in the hardest-hit areas such as Baidoa, Galkacyo, Bardhere, and Beledweyne.
Al Jazeera reports that the Horn of Africa region is one of the most vulnerable to climate change. The region is emerging from the worst drought in four decades, and the current floods represent a significant shift in the environmental challenges faced by the region.
Humanitarian groups warn that the situation is likely to deteriorate further without urgent global intervention, as El Niño is expected to continue affecting weather patterns until at least April 2024.
