Somalia: 2024 Gu (April to June) Season Floods Bi-Weekly Situation Report No. 3 - As of 30 May 2024

This report is produced by OCHA Somalia in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It provides information on the flood emergency as of 30 May 2024. Unless the situation changes dramatically, this will be the last 2024 Gu Season Floods Situation Report

HIGHLIGHTS

• Humanitarian partners are working with the Federal Government of Somalia and Federal Member States to respond to the impact of the Gu (April to June) 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 from their homes. The Shabelle River broke its banks in Belet Weyne, displacing 42,600 people in several areas.

• Some people who were displaced have returned to their homes due to the prevailing dry conditions. In Dhobley and Afmadow, at least 24,000 displaced people have already 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$1.6 billion is 21.9 per cent funded. Additional funds are urgently required to meet the needs of the affected people.

SITUATION OVERVIEW

Humanitarian agencies, the Federal Government of Somalia, Federal Member States and partners are continuing to provide lifesaving assistance to people affected by the ongoing Gu (April to June) rains and have reached at least 201,000 people in 36 districts with unconditional cash transfers, food and non- food items, cholera prevention and awareness messages, health, protection and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) assistance. The rains have affected some 268,359 people and killed 10. Destruction of farms, public infrastructure, and other livelihood assets has also been reported. The number of people displaced significantly rose to 81,000 from 38,700 reported on 19 May after the Shabelle River broke its banks in Belet Weyne district, displacing 42,600 people in Koshin, Haawo taako, Buundoweye, and Howlwadaag areas. At least 9,000 of those displaced in Belet Weyne have reportedly returned to their homes and another 30,000 people are expected to return in the next two weeks. Schools in Belet Weyne town have re-opened. Despite the dry weather conditions, the subsequent downflow of the previously high water levels at Belet Weyne led to a rise in the river level at Bulo Burte, Jalalaqsi, Jowhar and Balcad posing a high risk of downstream flooding, according to FAO-Somalia Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM). The current and predicted dry conditions and light rains are likely to lead to a further drop in the Juba and Shabelle river levels.

In Dhobley and Afmadow, Jubaland State, some 24,000 people who were displaced have gone back to their homes due to the prevailing dry conditions. In addition, the rains were beneficial to agropastoral livelihoods in many aspects including favorable soil moisture conditions for crop and fodder production, and replenishment of surface and ground water sources. Meanwhile, the spill over of Tropical Storm Laly which was projected to bring strong surface wind, ocean waves, flash floods and moderate rainfall, reportedly led to the drowning of eight children in Marka town, Lower Shabelle on 23 May, according to the local community. Cases of acute watery diarrhoea (AWD)/cholera have risen across the country, which is attributed to limited access to potable water due to contamination of water sources that were submerged by flood water, high level of malnutrition among children, lack of proper sanitation and difficulties in accessing health centres. At least 12,327 cases and 114 deaths have been reported, representing a case fatality rate (CFR) of 1.0 per cent since January, according to the Federal Ministry of Health. Afgooye district accounts for the highest cases followed by Banadir. In addition, the rains have impacted heavily on the water, sanitation and hygiene sector, destroying 644 latrines and extensively damaging 124 water points, thereby increasing vulnerability to waterborne diseases.

The week of 21 to 27 May was largely marked by dry conditions and light rains in Gumburaha in Woqooyi Galbeed region; Laas caanood in Sool region; Kismaayo in Lower Juba region and Jowhar in Middle Shabelle region, according to the FAO-Somalia Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM). During the week of 28 May to 3 June, dry conditions are expected in most inland parts of the country with chances of light rainfall over coastal parts of the southern regions. The cessation of the Gu rains is likely to be observed, ushering in the Hagaa season which is expected to bring above-normal rainfall conditions over Lower Juba, Middle Juba, Lower Shabelle, and Awdal regions; and drier-than-normal conditions in Togdheer, Sool and Sanaag regions.