Hassan Istiila
Saturday October 7, 2023
Mogadishu (HOL) - Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has affirmed that the federal government has prepared a response plan to the anticipated El Niño, which is likely to bring heavy rainfall during the rainy season between October and December in Somalia.
During his visit to the Somali Disaster Management Agency-SoDMA on Saturday, Prime Minister Barre urged the people, particularly those residing along riverbanks and low-lying areas, to remain vigilant due to the risk of severe flooding.
"There is a risk of flooding due to the expected rains in the country, according to scientific forecasts, which indicate that heavy rains capable of causing damage may fall in parts of the country," said Prime Minister Hamza.
Mr. Barre emphasized that the government's plan includes early warning systems and assisting people when floods occur. He also urged aid agencies operating in the country to collaborate closely with the SOMDA Agency to prepare for impending disasters jointly.
An estimated 1.1 million people in Somalia are expected to face a substantial threat due to the impacts of El Niño, as warned by agencies on Thursday. Meanwhile, the regional states of Southwest and Hirshabelle are on high alert, as the Shabelle River has already begun flooding near the Jowhar and Mahaday districts. At the same time, rains have started in the Southwest state.
The commissioner of the Somali Disaster Management Agency-SoDMA, Mohamud Moallin Abdulle, announced that the agency has begun deploying aid to the areas around Beledweyne town, which is among the areas expected to be affected by the floods. The assistance consists of approximately 200 tons of food, medicine, and mosquito nets for people residing in vulnerable areas.
According to the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), there is an alarmingly high 80% probability of experiencing wetter-than-usual rainfall in southern Ethiopia, eastern Kenya, and southern Somalia.
Last May, floods caused almost a quarter of a million people to flee their homes after the Shabelle River in central Somalia broke its banks and submerged the town of Beledweyne. The last El Niño event in 2015/16 resulted in torrential rains, leading to landslides, flash floods, and building collapses.
Somalia is facing an extreme and persistent drought affecting up to 90 percent of its territory and 7.8 million people. In 2023, a combination of drought, conflict, and flooding displaced 912,000 people within the country.