Somalia Situation Report, 4 June 2024

HIGHLIGHTS (4 Jun 2024)

• Humanitarian partners are working with the Federal Government of Somalia & Member States
  to respond to the impact of the Gu' rains and have reached 201,000 people with assistance. At least 268,000 people have been affected by the rains including 81,000 people displaced. The Shabelle River broke its banks in Belet Weyne, displacing 42,600 people.
• Some people who were displaced have returned home due to the prevailing dry conditions. In
  Dhobley and Afmadow, at least 24,000 displaced people have returned to their homes.
• To gauge the impact of the Gu rains, rapid needs assessments have been rolled out in Hirshabelle, Jubaland and Puntland States and data has been collected in several districts.
• The 2024 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, which requires US$1.6B is 21.9 per cent funded. Additional funds are urgently required to meet the needs of the affected people.

ANALYSIS

SOMALIA: 2024 Gu (April to June) Season Floods Weekly Situation Report No. 2

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Humanitarian partners, working together with the Federal Government of Somalia, continue to support people affected by Gu (April to June) seasonal rains and flash floods, and have reached at least 157,000 people with some form of assistance. As of 14 May, the number of people affected by the ongoing rains has risen to 225,759ii people including 38,727 people displaced and 9 deaths, according to the authorities. At least 3,000 people have been relocated. Meanwhile, a large part of those displaced in Dhobley and Afmadow have returned to their homes following a dry spell. Across Somalia, the heavy rains and flash floods have resulted in the loss of livelihoods, including livestock, cropland, damaged small businesses and destroyed infrastructure including shelter (3,367 destroyed and 870 affected), water sources (29 water points), latrines (5,002), schools (7), and damaged roads. Additionally, 5,899 hectares of agricultural land have been inundated by the floods, jeopardizing food security. According to humanitarian partners, at least 770,000 people could be affected by the time the Gu season ends. In addition, the damage to water sources, and water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities is exacerbating the cholera outbreak. At least 10,647 cases and 120 deaths, representing a case fatality rate (CFR) of 1.1 per cent, have been reported in seven states as of 13 May, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The CFR is slightly above the WHO emergency threshold of less than or equal to one per cent. The week of 7 and 13 May was generally marked by light to moderate rains received in 40 stations while heavy rains were only observed at Mataban in Hiraan region and Doolow in Gedo region. Dry conditions prevailed in several other areas. Light to moderate rains are expected in Puntland and Somaliland with dry conditions likely to be observed throughout central and southern parts of the country between the 14 to 20 May, according to FAO-Somalia Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM). Meanwhile, along the Shabelle and Juba River Catchment, dry conditions are likely to lead to a reduction in runoff water, causing a drop in the previous high river levels at Belet Weyne, Doolow and Luuq. As the previous volume of water at Belet Weyne, Doolow and Luuq flows downstream, the river will slightly rise before dipping at Bulo Burte, Jalalaqsi, Jowhar, Balcad, Baardheere, Bu’aale and Jilib during the week of 19 to 25 May, leading to reduced risk of flash and riverine flooding in Belet Weyne and Doolow and the entire channels, according to FAO-SWALIM.

UPDATE BY AREA

In Banadir, heavy rains resulted in flash floods that affected 34 makeshift shelters, displacing 336 people (56 households) living in affected sites in Kahda district. One community center and 30 latrines were also damaged. In Degen displacement site in Garasbaley district, some 396 people (66 households) were displaced. In addition, some 1,200 people (200 households) who were displaced by floods in riverine villages from Jowhar district along the Shabelle River arrived at displacement sites in Daynille district. At least 16,320 people (2,700 households) in 14 riverine villages in Belet Weyne district, Hirshabelle State, were reportedly displaced after the Shabelle River overflowed at three points, Bacaad, Qooqane and Lafoole northeast towards the upper stream on 14 May, according to a humanitarian partner. The flooding also submerged agricultural land and destroyed 17 shelters and 30 latrines. The cause of the river breakage and subsequent flooding is reportedly the weakened irrigation canals. SWALIM has reported no immediate cause of alarm because the flow of the water is slow. A Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA) of the impact of the rains has started in Belet Weyne and is planned to be conducted in Jowhar next week. In Jubaland State, heavy rains triggered flash floods along the Dawo and Juba rivers in Doolow district, causing extensive damage to farms, particularly around Qansaxley displacement sites. The floods swept away crops such as maize, sorghum, beans, and vegetables including onions, cabbages, potatoes, tomatoes, and peppers, which is expected to significantly impact the livelihoods of local farmers who were anticipating a good harvest. Flash floods displaced some 1,608 people (268 households) in Khayrdoon displacement site in Bacadweyn town, Puntland State, according to State the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management (MoHADM) and the local authorities on 11 May. In addition, nearly 268 makeshift houses were damaged, and 67 latrines destroyed in Khayrdoon site. The displaced people moved to elevated areas in the site, which hosts an estimated 347 households, according to Camp Coordination Camp Management (CCCM) cluster partners. Partners are undertaking Rapid Needs Assessment (RNA) exercises in the flood affected areas including Khayrdoon and Xarfo in Gaalkacyo and Balli Busle village in Jariiban district. Separately, the Ministry of Health reported that the recorded number of AWD/cholera cases has reached 2,041 with 72 deaths since the beginning of the year. The most affected districts are Garowe with a total of 885 cases and 25 deaths (CFR 3 per cent), Bossaso with 611 cases and 21 deaths (CFR 4 per cent), Qardho with 314 cases and 23 deaths (CFR 8 per cent) and parts of Sanaag region with 176 cases and 2 deaths (CFR 1 per cent). In Somaliland, the Mayor of Burco town on 13 May reported 23 AWD/Cholera cases. According to the State Ministry of Health Development (MoHD), Burco district is currently one of the AWD/cholera hotspot areas in Somaliland, alongside the towns of Wajaale in Woqooyi Galbeed region, and Borama in Awdal region. Similarly, in South West State, the Health Cluster reported a rise in cholera with 3,136 cases reported and 16 deaths with a CFR of 0.5 per cent, since early April. The majority of those affected are children under five.

HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

The Federal Government of Somalia continues to provide humanitarian assistance in flood-affected districts, with support from state and local governments. At least 7,000 households including 3,000 that are displaced in Kismayo received 350 MT of wheat from 5 to 11 May, a donation from the Government of Russia. The Somalia Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) distributed mixed food items (50kg wheat, and 15kg of dates) to 1,200 households. They also distributed 200 tents to 200 households in Ceel Baraf district, Middle Shabelle region. Humanitarian partners have reached some 157,000 people (26,166 households) with some form of assistance, including unconditional cash transfer, food and non-food items, cholera prevention and awareness messages, and water, sanitation and hygiene activities. They have also prepositioned essential nutrition supplies in 22 hotspot districts.