Somalia Floods Kill 10, Displace Over 113,000 People

Floods Displace Over 113,000 People in Somalia Following Heavy Rains

The devastating effects of heavy rains across parts of Somalia have resulted in the displacement of more than 113,000 people, affecting hundreds of thousands more, according to the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA).

Tragically, around 10 people have lost their lives in the aftermath of the rains. The government has declared a state of emergency due to the dire situation, as reported by the Somali Disaster Management Agency on social media platform X.

This wave of rainfall comes on the heels of a severe drought that plagued the Horn of Africa nation just a year ago. That drought, considered the worst in four decades, coupled with violence and rising food prices caused by the Ukraine conflict, claimed the lives of as many as 43,000 people, as per the UN.

The current October-December rainy season has witnessed intense downpours in various Somali states, including Puntland, Galmudug, South West, Hirshabelle, and areas along the Juba river in Jubbaland State. These rains are partly attributed to the El Nino climate phenomenon, in which surface waters in the central and eastern Pacific become unusually warm, triggering global weather pattern changes.

The UN OCHA reported, “Over 706,100 people have been temporarily affected, with over 113,690 people temporarily displaced from their homes across the country.” Southwest and Jubbaland states bore the brunt of the impact, with approximately 536,608 people affected.

Amina Mohamed Bobshe, a resident of Lower Shabelle region, shared the plight of her community enduring five days of continuous rain, leading to devastating floods and the loss of their possessions. Many had to seek refuge in internally displaced people’s camps, and she implored for urgent assistance.

In the Luuq area of southwest Gedo region, around 2,400 people were trapped by the floods, with rescue efforts underway. Additionally, about 14,000 families found themselves cut off from the main town in Baardhere.

These repeated flood events are exacerbating the humanitarian challenges faced by the people of Somalia. Aid agencies and scientists emphasize that climate change plays a significant role in driving these crises, even though the regions most affected bear the least responsibility for CO2 emissions.