Eastern Africa: Heavy rains and flooding Flash Update #4 (30 May 2024)

HIGHLIGHTS

• Heavy rains and flash floods continued to cause damage and displacement across Eastern Africa, mainly in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, with nearly 1.6 million people affected, including 528 people who lost their lives and more than 480,000 people who have been displaced, as of 30 May.
• Humanitarian partners across the Eastern Africa region continue to support governments in search and rescue operations, conducting needs assessments, pre-positioning available stocks, and providing urgent assistance. Additional funding to scale up response as heavy rains and floods spread is needed.
• Meanwhile, a number of areas in the region, i.e. Djibouti, Eritrea, central and northern Ethiopia, western and coastal Kenya, much of Uganda, South Sudan, and Sudan are expected to receive above-average rainfall for June to September period.
• The South Sudan government and humanitarian partners are on high alert for flooding in the northern and central parts of the country following the increase of the level of water in Lake Victoria to a record level.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Heavy rains, flash floods and landslides continued to cause havoc across the Eastern Africa region, mainly in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, where nearly 1.6 million people have been affected, including 528 people who lost their lives and up to 482,320 people who have been displaced, as of 30 May. The rains were expected to decline in the arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya, Somalia, and southern-southeast Ethiopia, in late May. Meanwhile, according to the Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC) statement released on 21 May, during the 67th Greater Horn of Africa Climate Outlook Forum (GHACOF67), a number of areas in the region, i.e. Djibouti, Eritrea, central and northern Ethiopia, western and coastal Kenya, much of Uganda, South Sudan, and Sudan are expected to receive above-average rainfall for June to September period. June to September is an important rainy season, especially in the northern and western parts of the Greater Horn of Africa, where it generally contributes more than 40 per cent of the annual rainfall and more than 90 per cent in parts of the north.

In Kenya, 315 people have been killed, 188 injured, and 38 missing, while more than 306,520 (61,304 families) have been affected by heavy rains and floods between 1 March and 29 May 2024, including an estimated 293,200 people (58,641 families) who have been displaced, according to the National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC). Floods continued to result in loss of property and disruption of services in various parts of the country. Tropical Storm Ialy, that hit the coastline on 21 May, bringing heavy rains, strong winds and high waves, led to the death of two people, while six others were injured. Tropical Storm Ialy has been an exceptionally intense system for the southwestern Indian Ocean basin but it dissipated on 22 May, the Kenya Meteorological Department confirmed. Some 30 health facilities in seven counties were flooded, while one structure was destroyed, and others either inaccessible by road or damaged, according to the Ministry of Health. Rainfall is expected to continue over the Lake Basin, Highlands East and West of the Rift Valley, Central and Southern Rift Valley, North-western, parts of the Coast and North-eastern regions, the Lake Victoria Basin, and the Rift Valley.

In Tanzania, 155 people have lost their lives due to the impact of heavy rains, landslides, and flooding, while an estimated 126,000 people have been affected by early May, according to authorities.

In Somalia, more than 268,000 people have been affected by the Gu season heavy rains and floods (April-June), including some 38,700 people who have been displaced or relocated, as of 16 May. Nine people have lost their lives, seven schools were damaged, and more than 3,000 shelters were destroyed across 13 affected districts. Although the third week of May saw general dry conditions, the continued downflow of water from upstream led to a sustained rise in the levels along the Shabelle River, triggering flooding at Belet Weyne, according to Food and Agriculture Organization and Somali Water and Land Information Management update. Flooding in Belet Weyne displaced some 42,600 people living in low-lying flood-prone areas, who were evacuated, a rapid assessment found. This week, water levels in the Shabelle River dropped and many of the people displaced returned home. However, there is still a risk of riverine flooding in Bulo Burto, Jalalaqsi and Jowhar districts. Partners are concerned about a surge in cholera cases due to contamination of water sources. In Jubaland State, humanitarians reported a water shortage in the displacement sites, with people relying on water trucked by partners.

In Ethiopia, more than 560,000 people have been affected by the heavy rains and flooding experienced in April and early May in several districts, including Afar, Amhara, Central Ethiopia, Oromia, Sidama, Somali, South Ethiopia and South West Ethiopia People’s, Tigray regions and Dire Dawa City Administration, according to the Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Commission (EDRMC). Some 95,000 people have been displaced, based on preliminary results, as of 24 May. Some 60,000 hectares of cropland were damaged, and nearly 3,000 livestock died. A total of 93 woredas (districts) have reported cholera outbreaks, as flooding, poor sanitation, lack of safe drinking water, and limited humanitarian response contribute to the spread of the outbreak.

In Burundi, the impact of torrential rains has affected more than 239,780 people and forced more than 36,900 people to move from their homes due to flooding since January 2024, as of 4 May. Assessments were ongoing in some of the affected areas and the number of affected people could be higher. Over 10 per cent of the country’s food crop areas has been damaged, and 19,000 homes and 200 classrooms were destroyed. The floods are also linked to the country's most prolonged cholera outbreak, with 1,631 confirmed cases. The situation has escalated the spread of vector-borne diseases and significantly increased protection risks, particularly for women and children. The Burundi Institute of Meteorology predicts continued rainfall until the end of the primary rainy season in May to June.

In Uganda, more than 52,190 people have been affected by heavy rains, floods, and landslides between January and May, according to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Uganda Red Cross Society. An estimated 23 people died, and 241 others were injured.

In South Sudan, on 16 May, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, called for preparedness in case of possible flooding in the northern and central parts of the country following the increase of the level of water in Lake Victoria to a record level, and as Uganda is expected to open water flows next month. The Ministry warned of potential population displacement and the submergence of roads and infrastructure, urging local authorities to take immediate action and issue warnings. According to the Eastern Africa Seasonal Monitor produced by the World Food Programme (WFP), La Niña condition is expected to develop over the June-September period, occasioning enhanced rains in northern areas, as the probability of El Niño occurrence has declined.