Somalia

09 November 2023

As at 8 November 2023, flooding from the seasonal Deyr rains (October–December) had affected over 1.17million people in 21 districts. The Federal Government of Somalia has declared a state of emergency as El Niño-fuelled rains intensify across Banadir, Galmudug, Hirshabelle, Jubaland, Puntland, and Southwest states. The flooding has temporarily displaced over 310,000 people, with more than 1.6 million at risk of the impact of rising water levels. Disruptions to roads and bridges are constraining access, trapping over 2,400 people in Luuq district and more than 84,000 people in Baardheere from the main town. In Galmudug and Puntland, the flooding has affected more than 400 IDP sites, damaging shelters, latrines, and other infrastructure, and increased the need for emergency relief supplies, especially shelter and NFIs, food, WASH services, and emergency evacuations. (OCHA 09/11/2023, OCHA 06/11/2023)

17 October 2023

The 2023 Deyr rainy season (October–December), expected to cause above-average precipitation because of El Niño, has flooded parts of Somalia. By 4 October, flooding in Baidoa district (Southwest state) had affected 107,000 people. Floodwaters had damaged the shelters of 86,000 IDPs in 136 collective sites Baidoa city. 305 latrines had also sustained damage, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. Eight educational facilities had closed, affecting learning for 6,000 students. Mahady Weyne and Luuq have also experienced flooding. There is also a likelihood of continued riverine flooding along the Juba and Shabelle Rivers. Moderate to heavy rains are predicted over the Ethiopian highlands and river catchment areas, with soils along the river already saturated. Water levels along the Shabelle River have steadily surpassed the levels observed in 2022. About 1.2 million people living in riverine areas and over 1.5 million hectares of land could be affected. (OCHA 07/10/2023, FAO 12/10/2023, OCHA 12/10/2023)

28 September 2023

In July 2023, a confidential UN investigation found aid misuse and misappropriation by a network of landowners, clan leaders referred to as 'gatekeepers', police, and other local authorities in Somalia. This led to a temporary suspension of WFP funding by the European Commission in mid-September. Aid diversion was mostly recorded in Baidoa, Banadir, and Gaalkacyo, where IDPs mainly from minority clans were forced to pay gatekeepers a certain percentage of the aid they received in cash or aid products, which were then resold in markets. According to the UN investigation, aid diversion in Somalia was recurrent, widespread, and systemic. This occurred even when about 4.3 million people were expected to face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse food insecurity levels and approximately 1.5 million under-five children were expected to be acutely malnourished until December 2023. (Devex 18/09/2023, Reuters 19/09/2023, IPC 18/09/2023)

18 July 2023

On 11 July, Al Shabaab imposed a blockade on Baidoa, restricting movement on roads to and from the town. Baidoa is the capital of South West state and Bay region's main economic hub.
The blockade affected economic activities and transportation services in Baidoa, limiting food supply and causing price increases of available stocks. Fuel shortages were also reported, limiting humanitarians' ability to reach people in need within the town. Humanitarian movement outside of Baidoa is also restricted because of the blockade, cutting off access of people in need who live outside the town from aid and assistance. As at early 2023, Baidoa hosts about 600,000 people displaced by drought and conflict.
The blockade is seen as a retaliation by Al Shabaab to the latest Somali Government's directives and counter-insurgency operations against the group. As at 18 July, the blockade is still in place.

(ECHO 13/07/2023, VoA 17/07/2023, Garowe online 18/07/2023)

26 May 2023

The Horn of Africa is facing a humanitarian crisis caused by climatic change and insecurity. The 2020–2022 drought displaced 2.7 million people and killed 13 million livestock. Deteriorating livelihoods, poor economic conditions, and insecurity are driving hunger, with more than 20 million people needing food assistance in Ethiopia, 1.2 million facing emergency levels of need in Kenya, and 6.6 million in Somalia anticipating Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse food insecurity levels in June 2023. Approximately 1.2 million children, including 528,000 in Ethiopia, 242,500 in Kenya, and 478,000 in Somalia, will suffer from severe acute malnutrition. In Somalia, acute food insecurity is projected to deteriorate through June 2023, bringing 40,350 people to Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) food insecurity levels and facing starvation as a result of drought, high prices, and conflict. The 2023 humanitarian response is only 20% funded, with significant programming cuts expected. (OCHA 26/05/2023, DRC 21/05/2023, WFP 29/05/2023)

14 April 2023

Since the beginning of the Gu rainy season in March 2023, flash and riverine floods have affected over 175,000 people, with 140,000 displaced as at 13 April. Most IDPs are in Baardheere district in the Gedo region of Jubaland state and Baidoa district in the Bay region of Southwest state.

The flooding has caused livestock losses and damaged roads, schools, health centres, farmlands, and homes, affecting access to food and livelihoods, health, and education. Floodwaters have swept away around 27,500 livestock in the Gedo region of Jubaland state and killed 1,700 livestock in Somaliland and Puntland states, compounding previous drought-related livestock losses.

Stagnant water and inadequate access to WASH facilities also increase the risk of waterborne diseases such as acute watery diarrhoea and cholera. Since January, around 4,000 suspected cholera cases (over 50% being children) with 15 associated deaths have been reported.

(OCHA 13/04/2023, OCHA 03/04/2023, WHO 19/04/2023)

03 April 2023

Since the beginning of the Gu rainy season in March 2023, flooding has affected 100,000 people and killed at least 23 countrywide. Baardheere district (Jubaland state) has been the most affected, with 78,000 people affected and 21 killed.

The floods have damaged 1,000 hectares of farmland, 200 latrines, six health facilities, and four schools. The damage to schools and loss of learning materials have disrupted education for 3,000 children. Floodwaters have also killed or swept away more than 1,700 livestock in Somaliland and Puntland states, compounding previous drought-related livestock losses.

Inadequate access to WASH facilities and the possible contamination of water sources during the rainy season could worsen current outbreaks of acute watery diarrhoea and cholera.

Some IDPs in Banadir region and Hirshabelle, Puntland, and Southwest states face secondary displacement after the floods damaged their makeshift shelters. Stagnant floodwaters and damaged roads have made some areas, such as IDP sites in Baidoa town and parts of Dhuusamareeb town, inaccessible. Affected populations need food, shelter, WASH, and NFIs.
(OCHA 03/04/2023, UNICEF 04/2023, Crisis24 25/03/2023)