Ethiopia

Thousands displaced in catastrophic Somali region floods

Floods in the Somali Region of Ethiopia have displaced thousands, resulting in 33 casualties and severely impacting over 611,640 individuals, with more than 240,000 forced from their homes.

By Gelle Dheere | Friday, December 8, 2023

Floods in the Somali Region of Ethiopia have displaced thousands, resulting in 33 casualties and severely impacting over 611,640 individuals.

Disastrous floods in the Somali Region of Ethiopia have displaced thousands, resulting in 33 casualties and severely impacting over 611,640 individuals, with more than 240,000 forced from their homes, according to UNICEF.

Beyond human losses, the floods have led to the death of 4,806 livestock, the destruction of 16,300 hectares of crops, and damage to vital infrastructure such as health posts, schools, water intakes, wells, and community centres.

Keep reading

Affected areas span 33 districts and 156 sites across zones including Afder, Daawa, Doolo, Erwe, Jarar, Korahe, Liban, Nogob, and Shabelle, as detailed by the Regional Disaster Risk Management Bureau (DRMB).

This deluge follows years of drought and five consecutive failed rainy seasons, with projections indicating it will persist until December 2023.

Families displaced by the floods grapple with dire challenges, facing limited access to essential services such as safe drinking water, emergency shelter, WASH non-food items (NFIs), and alternative care for unaccompanied and separated children.