Somalia: Deyr rainy season 2023 Flash Update No. 7 (14 November 2023)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Heavy rains and floods have affected over 1.24 million people, with over 456,800 displaced from their homes. At least 32 people have reportedly died. Most of those affected are in bay region, South West State.

• Very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall is forecast in southern Somalia, with likely riverine and flash flooding from 14 to 21 November. Heavy rains are also expected in Bay region in South West, parts of Somaliland and Galmudug. Concern is growing over the risk of disease outbreaks especially cholera.

• Humanitarian agencies and authorities have stepped up assistance, reaching at least 679,400 people across Somalia with water, sanitation, food, cash, health and other forms of assistance.

• More than 100,000 people who were cut off from market supplies in Doolow and Bardheere, Middle Juba region, are receiving food and non-food items by boat; 26 boats are conducting humanitarian missions in seven locations.

• The UN released US$25 million to help prevent loss of life, stem disease outbreaks and address food insecurity support the response; $10 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund and $15 million from the Somalia Humanitarian Fund.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Field reports indicate that heavy rains and floods have affected over 1.24 million people, with over 456,800 people displaced from their homes, as of 14 November. At least 32 people have died, according to the Somali authorities. Bay region, South West State, is bearing the brunt, accounting for 37 per cent (454,320 people) of the total people impacted. Gedo follows closely with 23 per cent (291,765 people) and Mudug 17 per cent (213,356 people). In Baidoa, Bay Region, floods have displaced 12,350 families (74,100 people) in Howl Wadaag, Horseed, Berdaale, and Isha sites for internally displaced people (IDPs), according to UNHCR. Another 22,190 families (133,140 people) within the IDP host community in Baidoa have also been affected. In Banadir region, IDP shelters and latrines have been destroyed in Kahda district.

According to a flood advisory released by FAO-managed Somalia Water and Land Information Management on 13 November, flooding is reported along the entire Juba river with increasing magnitude at Bardheere and downstream at Saakow and Bualle. Along the Shabelle river, flooding is reported with increasing magnitude at Belet Weyne and moderate magnitude at Balcad.

There is a high risk of flooding at Bulo Burte and projected high risk at Jowhar.
The IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) forecasts very heavy to extremely heavy rainfall in southern Somalia, with likely riverine and flash flooding from 14 to 21 November. Rains are also expected to be heavy in Bay region in South West State, parts of Somaliland and Galmudug State.

Half of the 30,000 people affected by floods in Buurdhuubo, Garbaharey district in Jubaland State, have been displaced, with some sheltering in six schools, two health centres and mosques. Others have moved to higher grounds within the town. Flood water has reached communities downstream in Middle and Lower Juba, where there are significant access constraints due to the presence of non-state actors. In Saacow district, Middle Juba, where an estimated 60,000 people have been affected by floods, local NGOs are struggling to deliver assistance in the face of access difficulties and funding shortages. In Hirshabelle State, the Shabelle river has flooded about 90 per cent of Belet Weyne town, displacing most of the population to higher grounds. About 250,000 people are living in dire conditions, according to the Hirshabelle El Niño Task Force