El Niño flooding a state of emergency in Somalia
Updates and briefs on the situation and UNICEF response
Highlights
According to the Somali Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM) agency, most of the flood affected districts, including other parts of Somalia remained dry during this reporting week, with only Bualle and Jamaame districts recording light rainfall. The dry spell which was also experienced in most parts of the country over the past two weeks, has seen river levels gradually dropping below flood risk levels in Dollow and Luuq in Gedo region, Bualle in Middle Juba and Jowhar in Middle Shabelle. However, river levels in key flood affected districts like Bardheere, Beletweyne and Buloburto, remain at bankfull, largely due to the late onset and magnitude of the flood water from the Ethiopian Highlands.
UNICEF Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) indicated that previously displaced households have now started to return to their homes in Luuq and Dollow districts. However, the returning population are faced with an increased risk of malaria and water borne diseases, owing to the contamination of water sources and the challenge of accessing clean water.
The Somali government has declared a national state of Emergency.
View entire documents about the El Niño situation and UNICEF's response in the links on the right.
