Somalia: 2024 Gu Season Heavy Rains and Floods - Flash Update No. 1 (as of 22 April 2024)

This Flash Update is prepared by OCHA, in coordination with humanitarian partners and authorities in Somalia, and covers the situation as of 22 April 2024. The next update will be issued as soon as additional information is available.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The Gu (April to June) rains are intensifying with flash floods reported since 19 April. Four people have been reportedly killed; about 100 shelters for displaced people destroyed and at least 134 families (804 people) affected or displaced across Somalia.

• The River Shabelle level has risen to high risk in Jowhar district. Breakages around Mandheere, Bulo Hajji, Bahaaw and Bulo sheikh villages, southeast of Jowhar, have caused localized flooding but two have been closed by the local community.

• Moderate to heavy rains are projected to continue in several areas of Hirshabelle and South West states, while very heavy rains are projected in Bay, Sool and Sanaag regions, and light to moderate rains in Puntland.

• Humanitarians have stepped up response with 19 task forces activated across the country, 67 evacuation sites identified in flood-prone areas and 51 boats propositioned in 10 high-risk locations along the Shabelle and Juba rivers, but need additional resources to meet anticipated needs.

• Despite the onset of the Gu rains and the likely adverse impact on the humanitarian situation, funding for the response remains a major challenge. The 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) is only 10.2 per cent funded.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

The Gu (April to June) rains are intensifying with flash floods reported since 19 April. Four people, three boys in Somaliland and a six-year-old girl in Hirshabelle State have been reportedly killed; about 100 shelters for displaced people destroyed and at least 134 families (804 people) affected or displaced across Somalia. The three victims (boys) died on 19 April following heavy rains and floods that swept through Xididalay village in Berbera district, Woqooyi Galbeed region, Somaliland. The floods followed three days of continuous showers in Awdal, Toghdeer and Woqooyi Galbeed regions. Also damaged was a school in Qulijeed village, Baki district, Awdal region. Flash floods were also reported in Puntland State with water overflowing sections of the main road between Bossaso and Qardho towns at Ceel Daahir and Buraan valleys, temporarily disrupting traffic flow on 21 April. Light to moderate rains have also been reported in parts of Nugaal, Bari, Sanaag, Mudug and Sool regions. The start of the rains comes after two weeks of high temperatures and heatwaves associated with winds which resulted in some fire outbreaks in pastoral and agriculture settlements in Puntland.

From 18 to 20 April, moderate rains were reported in Galmudug State, particularly in Gaalkacyo, Dhuusamarreeb, Cabudwaaq, Cadaado, Ceel Dheer and Xarardheere districts, bringing relief for pastoral communities and their livestock, who rely heavily on seasonal rains. Local sources report that the rain is sufficient to refill water pans and regenerate pastures, potentially leading to increased food production in the region. In Banadir region, heavy rains flooded low-lying areas of Mogadishu city, disrupting business activities on 21 April. A local partner reported that 34 makeshift shelters were swept away in Kahda district, displacing 56 families, of whom 20 have reportedly moved to Deegan evacuation site. One community center was damaged and 30 latrines in displacement sites in Kahda and Garasbaley were damaged. Heavy rains in South West State affected 78 families and damaged four latrines in displacement sites in Baidoa on 18 April. Prior to the rains, partners distributed sandbags as mitigation measure against flooding in some displacement sites.

Reports from Hirshabelle State indicate that the girl died when flash floods inundated their home outside Kalabeyr village, north of Belet Weyne district on 21 April. The floods also interrupted traffic in Belet Weyne town. Over the last few days, average to moderate rainfall has been reported in Hirshabelle, raising the River Shabelle level to high risk in Jowhar district. In addition, river breakages around Mandheere village, 12km southeast of Jowhar and in Bulo Hajji, Bahaaw and Bulo Sheikh areas, have caused some localized flooding. The local community in Mandheere, supported by State authorities and FAO which mobilised a total of 6,300 sandbags, managed to close two breakages. Concerns remain that more flooding could severely affect traffic between Jowhar and Balcad district where heavy rains on 15 April destroyed about 30 latrines and 75 shelters housing displaced people.

Moderate to heavy rains are projected to continue in several areas of Hirshabelle and South West states, while very heavy rains are projected in Bay, Sool and Sanaag regions, and light to moderate rains in Puntland, according to FAO- Somalia Water and Land Information Management (FAO-SWALIM) which is monitoring the rainfall and river levels. Across Somalia, up to 770,000 people could be affected by heavy rains and floods in 22 hotspot districts this year, including in 15 Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD)/cholera hotspot districts such as Baidoa, Baardhere, Belet Weyne, Garowe, Kismayo, Gaalkacyo and Qardho, according to Gu rains preparedness plan embedded in the 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP). In addition, the rains are expected to worsen the current outbreak of Acute watery Diarrhoea (AWD)/cholera, which are already significantly high in some of hotspot locations. As of 17 April, at least 7,200 cases have been reported with 75 deaths since January, according to the Federal Ministry of Health. The current epidemiological data indicates that an estimated 1.2 million persons are at risk of being infected in 2024. Immediate requirements for response are estimated at US$10.7 million.