Somalia Flood Alerts and Update in 2020

May 10, 2020

Somalia is experiencing two types of flooding: river floods and flash floods. River floods occur along the Juba and Shabelle rivers in Southern Somalia, whereas flash floods are common along the intermittent streams in the northern part of the country. In the recent past, the country has experienced an increasing severity and frequency of floods. The historically most recent severe floods were those of the Deyr in 1961, 1977, 1997, and 2006, and the floods of the GU in 1981, 2005, 2006 and 2018.

Currently, River flooding are already occurring to many cities in Somalia particularly  cities along Shabelle and Juba River basins. Beldeweyne and vilages under Jowhar and Mahaday Districts of Hirshabelle State of Somalia are already under flooding . It was two weeks before when heavy and unexpected flash flooding occurred in Qardho of Puntland State of Somalia that resulted in displacement, death and economic losses. Gedo region also experiencing one of the worst flooding particularly towns along Juba river basin including Bardhere, Luuq and Dolow.

SONRREC recommends strongly Early actions to reduce the risks and improve the situations through river embarkments and community saving measures. Together by all stakeholders including Federal government, State governments, business and local communities are the only to prevent and manage the recurrent floods in Somalia.