Overall Orange alert Flood
in Somalia

Event summary

This flood can have a medium humanitarian impact based on the magnitude and the affected population and their vulnerability.

GDACS ID FL 1102258
Death: 87
Displaced: 458126
Countries: Somalia
From - To 04 Oct - 06 Dec

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Virtual OSOCC
Meteo assessment
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Analytical products
Horn of Africa - Floods (ECHO 21 Nov 2023)Tue, 21 Nov 2023 12:25

  • Heavy rainfall continues to affect the Horn of Africa region - Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia - since the beginning of the Deyr rainy season that lasts from early October to December, aggravated by the El Nino effect, causing the overflow of rivers, floods, flash floods and triggering landslides resulting in casualties and widespread damage.
  • According to DG ECHO and UN UCHA reports, as of 21 November, a total of at least 124 fatalities were reported, of whom 50 across Kenya, 33 in Ethiopia and 41 in Somalia. The number of displaced people is reportedly over 1.1 million throughout the three countries of whom 649,000 in Somalia, 371,300 in Ethiopia and 121,505 in Kenya. In addition, a total of more than 2.74 million people were affected across the region, 1.7 million in Somalia, 760,000 in Ethiopia and 281,880 in Kenya.
  • Over the next 24 hours, more heavy rainfall with locally very heavy rainfall is forecast over the whole Kenya, the neighbouring central-southern Somalia and most of Ethiopia.
Flood in Somalia - EC/ECHO daily mapFri, 01 Dec 2023 15:49

A new EC/ECHO daily map is now available
Somalia - Floods, update (ECHO 05 Dec 2023)Tue, 05 Dec 2023 11:34

  • The humanitarian impact continues to increase following the overflow of some rivers, floods and flash floods that have been hitting several parts of Somalia since the beginning of the Deyr rainy season, from early October to December.
  • As of 4 December, according to UN OCHA, 110 people died, more than 2.4 million people have been affected, and over 1 million have been displaced across at least 36 districts. Suspected cases of cholera were reported, and concern continues to grow over the spread of water-borne diseases.
  • Humanitarian partners and authorities are providing assistance to for those affected, and at least 820,000 people, i.e. approximately 30% of those impacted, have been assisted so far.
  • Over the next 48 hours, drier conditions are expected over most of Somalia.
Somalia - Floods, update (ECHO 12 Dec 2023)Tue, 12 Dec 2023 12:03

  • Water is receding in some parts of Somalia following dry conditions observed across the country between 5 to 10 December. However, the humanitarian impact is still high: some areas of the country are still inundated and the use of helicopters and boats is necessary to access and deliver supplies. 
  • According to UN OCHA, 118 people died, while the number of people affected by the heavy rains and floods has reached 2.48 million, with 899,000 displaced. Increases in the number of suspected measles, malaria, and cholera cases were reported over the last weeks.
  • Over the next 24 hours, drier conditions are expected over most of Somalia.
Somalia, October 2023Heavy rainfall from 04 October 2023 caused flooding in the South West State of Somalia in particular in areas of Baidoa, the largest city in the state and home to thousands of internally displaced persons (IDPs). The Ministry of Energy and Water Resources Somalia reported 15 hours of heavy rainfall from 04 to 05 October. In a report of 07 October, UNOCHA said preliminary reports by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, South West State and humanitarian partners, estimated that nearly 107,000 people (17,831 families) were affected by heavy rains and flash floods in Baidoa District. Meanwhile FAO SWALIM reported high levels along the Jubba River in Luuq in the Gedo Region on 05 October. On 23 October 2023 UNOCHA reported flooding had affected populations across Banadir, Galmuduug, Hirshabelle, Jubaland and South West states. Rivers rose again in early November due to heavy rain in Somalia and in river catchments in the highlands of Ethiopia. UNOCHA said the heavy rains were fuelled by an El Nino. Flooding affected Puntland, Galmudug, South West, Hirshabelle and Jubaland states. On 06 November UNOCHA reported 706,100 people affected and more than 113,690 displaced across the country. Around 2,400 people were cut off by floodwater in Luuq district, Jubaland. Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) reported a total of 29 fatalities. As of 13 November, SoDMA reported 932,580 people affected, 534,180 people displaced, 4,560 houses damaged and 32 lives lost across the states of Galmudug, Hirshabele, South West and Jubaland. On 14 November UNOCHA reported over 1.24 million affected, 456,800 displaced and 32 fatalities. On 24 November UNOCHA reported over 1.7 million affected, 695,000 displaced and 55 fatalities.Mon 27 Nov 2023FloodList provided by Copernicus GloFAS
Detailed event map. European Union, 2024. Map produced by EC-JRC.
The boundaries and the names shown on this map do not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the European Union.

Updates on volcanic activity (Smithsonian)

Latest media headlines

Floods death toll in Somalia rises to 118 12/11/2023 11:36:00 PM.

Mogadishu, Dec 11 (UNI) Death toll from recent El-Nino induced floods in Somalia has risen to 118 as water is receding in many areas that were flooded, reducing risks, the United Nations humanitarian agency said. The UN Office for the Coord
...(more)
East Africa Food Security Outlook, November 2023 - May 2024 12/11/2023 9:48:00 PM.

Conflict, high prices, and flooding sustain elevated humanitarian needs in much of the region. Key Messages In October, humanitarian needs remained atypically high across several parts of East Africa, driven largely by conflict and macroeco
...(more)
Floods death toll in Somalia rises to 118 12/11/2023 8:41:00 PM.

MOGADISHU, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Death toll from recent El-Nino induced floods in Somalia has risen to 118 as water is receding in many areas that were flooded, reducing risks, the United Nations humanitarian agency said. The UN Office for th
...(more)
Floods death toll in Somalia rises to 118 12/11/2023 8:40:00 PM.

MOGADISHU, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Death toll from recent El-Nino induced floods in Somalia has risen to 118 as water is receding in many areas that were flooded, reducing risks, the United Nations humanitarian agency said. The UN Office for th
...(more)

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Estimated casualties (PAGER)

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The graph shows the current fatalities estimate.

Exposed population

Data, images, links, services and documents

For this events, GDACS has links to information from the following sources: EC-JRC (36), (2), NASA (4), INFORM (2),