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Crisis Severity0 Very lowVery high 5
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Impact0 Very lowVery high 5
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Humanitarian Conditions0 Very lowVery high 5
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Complexity0 Very lowVery high 5
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Access ConstraintsNo constraintsExtreme constraints
Key figures
Special Reports
Overview
Hagaa (July-September) seasonal rains have triggered a new wave of riverine and flash flooding. At end July an estimated 191,800 people are affected and 124,000 people displaced. The floods have affected Hirshabelle, South West, and Jubaland states and Banaadir region.?
The earlier Gu (April-June) seasonal rains triggered flooding along the Juba and Shabelle river valleys, as the river levels rose. Gu seasonal flooding affected most of Somalia and around 919,000 people, of whom 412,000 were displaced nationwide. Some 29 districts, particularly Belet Weyne in Hiraan region (Hirshabelle state), were affected. In June, 12,000 of the 240,000 flood-displaced people in Belet Weyne district have returned to their homes. Some of the 26,000 displaced people in Lower Shabelle region have also started to return home. An estimated 149,000 hectares of farmland have been damaged by floods in 100 villages in Jowhar, Mahady and Balcad districts, Middle Shabelle since May.?
Rains are expected to trigger a spike in diarrhoea and cholera cases due to poor sanitation and inadequate health services. The presence of mosquitoes has reportedly increased in the flood-affected districts, leading to concerns of a potential malaria outbreak.?
Severe flash floods have already caused massive destruction of homes, latrines, and shelters. Shelter/NFIs, food, WASH, nutrition assistance, and COVID-19 awareness are among the most urgent humanitarian needs.?
Latest Developments
14/08/2020: Latest figures from UNHCR show a rising year-to-year trend in flood-based displacement in Somalia, with floods in 2018 and 2019 displacing 281,000 and 416,000 people respectively. Since the beginning of 2020, extreme flooding displaced over 650,000 people across the country.?
DISEASE OUTBREAKS
During the floods, the risk of disease outbreaks is high due to crowding in areas where displaced people are seeking temporary shelter and limited access to safe water and sanitation. There are concerns about an increased number of cases of acute watery diarrhoea and cholera.
As of 26 June, there are 4,251 suspected cholera cases in the country this year and 23 associated deaths. Throughout 2019 the country reported 3,069 suspected cases. There is an urgent need for essential medical supplies, including oral rehydration solution and cholera salines for affected. ?
KEY PRIORITIES
Shelter and NFIs: floods and landslides have caused destruction of infrastructure and property across the country. More than 400,000 people are in need of emergency shelter assitance.?
WASH: emergency water supply temporary distribution systems and emergency sanitation is needed in relocation sites to avoid the spread of water-borne diseases. ?
INFORMATION GAPS
- The living conditions of the returnees
- Information about whether or not people displaced by the Gu floods were displaced for a second time due to the Hagaa floods.