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What happened, where and when?
El Nino triggered heavy rains and strong winds across Somalia's Puntland and Somaliland regions since September 22nd, 2023. These caused flash floods and severe disruptions in Awdal (Garbo-Dader), Sahil (Berbera), Sanaag (Erigavo) of Somaliland, and Nugaal (Eyl), Bari (Banderbeyla, Galkayo), Mudug (Galkayo) of Puntland. The situation worsened in October, leading to a state of emergency declared by the Federal Government in response to devastating floods.
Continued heavy rains, particularly since mid-October, resulted in further flash floods across these six regions, severely impacting both Somaliland and Puntland.
Somaliland: 618 households, primarily residing in makeshift shelters, lost their homes. Over 8 shallow wells, 35 water points (Berkeds), and 110 community latrines were damaged or over-flooded. This resulted in an increase of waterborne illnesses, with reports of acute water diarrhoea, eye problems, coughs, and a rise in dengue fever. Floodwaters also blocked access routes to towns and markets, hindering movement of people and hindering the ow of goods and services.
Puntland: Streets in Galkayo and nearby IDP sites submerged, rendering travel virtually impossible and halting public transportation.
Neighborhoods like Garsoor, Israac, and Horumar, as well as areas in the Bari region such as Qardho and Bender Beyla districts, suffered extensive flooding, displacing residents and causing damage to infrastructure and businesses. Tragically, lives were lost, and communities like Dhiganle village in the Nugal region saw their livelihoods devastated, with businesses washed away and lives lost.
These foods compounded the already dire situation in IDP sites, exacerbating the challenges of accessing basic necessities like water, food, and medical services. Particularly vulnerable were women, who faced heightened risks during displacement and outbreaks of disease. The rainy season further complicated access to affected areas, making roads impassable and hindering timely assessment and response efforts.
Local authorities and humanitarian partners grappled with increased prices of staple foods and essential items, attributed to transportation difficulties caused by flooded roads. Emergency responses were activated in inaccessible areas, with coordination meetings held under the auspices of the state ministries of humanitarian affairs and disaster management. However, critical gaps in response capacity persisted across sectors, necessitating urgent action to provide shelter, food, water, sanitation, and hygiene services, as well as the relocation of vulnerable populations at risk of recurrent flooding.