HIGHLIGHTS

• Over 170 people have died and 225,000 displaced as a result of flash flooding

• Food Security: Aid agencies urged to adopt ‘no regrets response’ to build on regional food security gains

• Renewed attempts made to address cross border and incountry insecurity in eastern Africa, namely in Somalia, DRC and Kenya.

• Regional Migration: An estimated 9.15 million people are currently displaced in the region: 2,012,531 are refugees and 7,141,442 are IDPs

A new infographic shows the affected areas in Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania and highlights the need for improved cross-border disaster risk reduction and flood mitigation measures.

HIGHLIGHTS

• New study shows that over a quarter of a million people died from food insecurity and famine between late 2010 and early 2012 and underlines the need to heed early warnings.

• Seasonal rains bring relief, but localized flooding displaces 50,000 people and kills seven.

• Somalis return home from neighbouring countries albeit at slow pace. About 16,000 people have returned from Kenya in 2013.

In April, parts of the country particularly the south were affected by flooding following heavy rains across Somalia and the Ethiopian highlands. The Juba and Shabelle river basins continued to receive moderate to heavy rains during the month. These floods have led to loss of property, damage to infrastructure and displacement of people. Humanitarian partners are supporting flood-affected communities with several activities, including pumping water from flooded areas, provision of non food items, water purification and rebuilding river banks to allow people to go back to their homes.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The plight of migrants from the Horn of Africa has worsened, with 25,000 people stranded in Haradh.

• More than 200 schools have been rehabilitated by USAID and the Ministry of Education since 2011.

• Civil disobedience in Abyan has disrupted schooling with 12 schools reportedly attacked in March.

• Suspected cases of measles reported in Hajjah Governorate.

• 25,000 tons of food to be distributed to 900,000 people in Bani Mtar District of Sana'a Governorate.

Mogadishu (02 May 2013) – The Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, Philippe Lazzarini, made the following statement today:

Situation overview

Several parts of the country especially the south have been affected by flooding following heavy rains across Somalia and the Ethiopian highlands. Flash floods in Wanlaweyn district in Lower Shabelle led to loss of property, damage to infrastructure and displacement of people. Xudun district (Sool) and Dharoor valley (Sanaag) also experienced flooding. Humanitarian partners immediately mobilised emergency response to the flood affected people. The rains however also led to significant improvements in pasture and surface water availability.