Somalia Humanitarian Bulletin, August 2024

This report is produced by OCHA Somalia in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It provides information on the humanitarian situation across Somalia in August 2024.

Highlights

• Riverine flooding displaced 3,650 people from their homes in Belet Weyne and Afgooye districts, but the water level on the Shabelle river dropped a few days later, reducing the risk of further flooding.
• The Somali Disaster Management Agency (SODMA) is addressing food insecurity in various regions of the country by delivering tons of food assistance to different regions
• Mobile maternity clinics providing integrated sexual and reproductive health services to 10,000 displaced women and girls in Guryasamo camp (Dayniile/Mogadishu), Dalhiska camp (Kismayo) and Qansaxley Camp (Doolow).
• An Inter Cluster Coordination Mission visited Gaalkacyo and Galdogob districts to assess the impact of clan violence, humanitarian needs, response gaps and support required for effective humanitarian interventions.
• Humanitarian community commemorated World Humanitarian Day on 19 August. High level officials attended events in Garowe, Baidoa, Dhuusamarreeb and Mogadishu.

Flooding displaces thousands of people in Hirshabelle and South West states

The Shabelle river broke its banks and flooded eight villages in Belet Weyne district on 28 August, forcing more than 2,460 people to flee their homes, according to the local community and authorities. Nearly 200 hectares of farmland were inundated.

The flooding resulted from the downflow of water from the Ethiopian highlands. Downstream in Bulo Burte, a moderate overbank flooding risk was observed. In Afgooye district, river flooding was reported in Baalguri, Raqeyle and Dambaley on 23 August. A partner reported at least 1,200 people displaced, and 130 shelters, 20 community latrines as well as an education facility damaged. The river water level dropped to moderate risk level as of 1 September, according to FAO-managed Somalia Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM). This year, Belet Weyne district has witnessed flooding three times, displacing thousands of people, and impacting market/livelihood systems, water and sanitation facilities and social amenities, including schools and health facilities.

Most regions in Somalia are dry although moderate rains have been observed in southern regions and along the Indian Ocean coast. On 2 August, partners in Balcad district reported that a water reservoir in Hawadley broke banks, flooding 16 villages and displacing people from their homes. An assessment by humanitarian partners found that about 42,000 were displaced to higher ground, an estimated 17,000 hectares of crops were damaged by the flooding and two shallow wells required rehabilitation. The State-Inter Cluster Coordination Group and Area Based Coordination teams coordinated response, in close collaboration with the authorities.