Somalia: Floods - Mar 2023

Several areas of Somalia received moderate rains in the week starting 12 March, with the heaviest rainfall recorded in Gedo and Bay regions, particularly in Baardheere, Wanle Wayne, Luuq and Doolow districts. According to the latest rainfall outlook for the 2023 Gu season. Partners have raised concerns over a likely deterioration of the living conditions, particularly for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) living in overcrowded settlements with inadequate shelter. The rains also come at a time when partners are struggling with a surge in disease outbreaks, including acute watery diarrhoea/cholera, and measles cases, which are likely to increase due to the risk of people consuming contaminated water and lack of adequate sanitation and hygiene facilities and services. (OCHA, 23 Mar 2023)

Nearly 100,000 people have been affected by heavy rains and flash flooding in several areas of Somalia over the last week. [...] The worst affected district is Baardheere in Jubaland State; 21 people including six children have reportedly been killed. More than 13,000 families (about 78,000 people) have been affected; shelters for 8,945 families (about 53,600 people) were damaged or destroyed. (OCHA, 3 Apr 2023)

Floods have affected over 175,000 people in Somalia since the beginning of the rainy season, of whom 140,000 have been displaced. (OCHA, 13 Apr 2023)

As of 6 June, at least 468,000 people have been impacted by the floods, of whom 247,000 have been displaced from their homes. According to partners, at least 85 per cent of those displaced are in Belet Weyne town and surrounding areas in Hiraan region, where the Shabelle river burst its banks on 9 May. Further downstream, the Shabelle flooded parts of Bulo Burte and Jalalaqsi districts on 24 May, displacing nearly 7,000 people. Flash floods have also been reported in Qardho in Puntland, Gaalkacyo in Mudug region and in Mogadishu in Banadir region. (OCHA, 06 Jun 2023)