Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya - Floods

Thu, 03 May 2018 06:56:00 +02:00

Over the course of the last week, heavy rain has continued in the Ethiopian highlands and across southern Somalia, resulting in further flash floods and riverine flooding in many locations across southern Somalia, notably the Shabelle and Juba river basins. The current water levels in many locations are the highest for the last 50 years, according to Somalia Water and Land Information Management.
An estimated 630 000 people are affected in Somalia, with almost 215 000 displaced across southern Somalia. Along the Shabelle river, Belet Weyne, Jowhar, Mahaday and Badcal are particularly heavily affected, as are low-lying internally Displaced People concentrations in Baidoa (Southwest state), Kismayo (Jubaland state), and Mogadishu.
In addition to displacement, the flooding has caused destruction of property, inundation of croplands and damage to infrastructure, notably water and sanitation facilities. Contamination of drinking water sources is particularly concerning, increasing the likelihood of water-borne diseases.
The Federal Government of Somalia has pledged $1 million for flood response, appealed to the international community and the Somali diaspora for further support, and established a National Flood Committee for coordination purposes. The UN have allocated an initial $5 million in emergency funding, and together with other humanitarian partners have stepped up their response in areas affected by flooding, providing life-saving assistance, including food, WASH, health, nutrition, shelter and sandbags where needed. Road access to some of the affected areas remains limited, and emergency assessments and delivery require additional air and boat transport.
The heavy rains in the catchment areas of the Juba and Shabelle rivers (including in the Ethiopian highlands) will continue in the coming week; river levels inside Somalia are expected to continue rising, with more cases of flooding and tens of thousands still at risk of displacement.
In Kenya and Ethiopia, heavy rains, floods and damage have also continued, with further heavy rainfall predictions for northern and coastal areas of Kenya, as well as south and south-east Ethiopia; in many cases, these are the same areas as those already affected by the 2017 drought. In Kenya, the International Federation of the Red Cross have launched an Emergency Appeal for a 6-month floods response.