Attachments
Location: Jowhar and Surrounding Areas (Middle Shabelle Region)
Current Situation:
Flooding reported at Bayaxaaw and Raqayle villages downstream of Jowhar town. The floods have primarily resulted from a breakage, reported to have been created by riverine farmers diverting river water into irrigation canals during the recent dry spells. Communities in the affected villages are making efforts to close the breakage, but they have not succeeded so far.
Although the river level at Jowhar gauging station has surpassed the moderate flood-risk threshold, no natural river overbank flows have been observed yet.
Forecast and Outlook:
Immediate (Daily Forecast – 28 April 2025):
Light to moderate rains are forecast over parts of the Shabelle River catchment within Somalia and neighboring Ethiopia. However, rainfall amounts are unlikely to trigger immediate significant rises in river levels.
Weekly Outlook (28 April – 4 May 2025):
Continued light to moderate rains across the catchment could generate localized runoff, potentially causing slight increases in the river levels at Jowhar. Despite this, major flooding from natural river overflow is not anticipated during this period. Flooding within the reported villages may however continue unless the breakage is closed.
Implications:
- Flood incidents currently reported are localized, resulting from human-induced breakage.
- River levels might rise gradually but are expected to remain below bank-full thresholds.
Recommended Actions:
Community and local authorities should:
- Exercise caution against breaking riverbanks for irrigation purposes to prevent unintended flooding.
- Urgently identify and close any breaches or weak points along the riverbanks to strengthen flood resilience.
- Remain vigilant and closely monitor updates from SWALIM, MOHADM, and local disaster management committees.
- Exercise caution if you move close to the riverbank breakages as the high water flow speed can be dangerous for your goods and fatal for your life.
Communication:
Stay informed through official SWALIM bulletins, local radio broadcasts, television, and SMS alerts.
This advisory is issued by FAO-SWALIM in collaboration with the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) and Hirshabelle State Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management.