Somalia – 108,000 Displaced by Floods Says UN

Flooding has worsened in Somalia in the last few days, with over 200,000 people now affected.

In an update of 16 November, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that the “ongoing Deyr seasonal rains (October-December) have affected nearly 214,000 people, of whom more than 108,000 people have been temporarily displaced from their homes in South West, Jubaland, Hirshabelle and Galmudug states as well as Banadir region.”

OCHA added that most displacements occurred in the two worst affected regions in the Shabelle River basin – Lower Shabelle (South West State) and Middle Shabelle (Hirshabelle State).

In Baidoa town, South West State, more than 66,000 people including IDPs have been affected, of whom 6,000 have been displaced. Thousands of hectares of farmland have been inundated particularly along the river basins.

Those affected are in 18 districts, including Qoryoley (49,205 people affected), Jowhar (36,124), Afgooye 21,000, Afmadow 12,000, Banadir 13,400, as well as Baidoa (66,690 affected).

Flood affected areas of Somalia November 2020. Image: UN OCHA