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One in four Somalis face 'crisis-level hunger' amid floods - UN

Vehicles have difficulty moving forward due to puddles formed on the streets after the downpour in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on 9 November 2023.(Photo by Abuukar Mohamed Muhidin / ANADOLU / Anadolu via AFP)

By United Nations | Wednesday, November 15, 2023

Heavy rains that triggered flash flooding in the troubled Horn of Africa nation have driven around half a million people from their homes and more than 30 people have perished, according to the government.

A quarter of Somalia's population face "crisis-level hunger" by the end of the year, the United Nations warned on Tuesday, as the country battles deadly floods.

Heavy rains that triggered flash flooding in the troubled Horn of Africa nation have driven around half a million people from their homes and more than 30 people have perished, according to the government.

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The UN's World Food Programme said the flooding has devastated communities already struggling to recover from the worst drought in four decades that sent millions to the brink of starvation.

While humanitarian aid staved off famine, the WFP said Somalia is still facing the highest levels of hunger it has suffered in over a decade.

However, the WFP said significant funding shortfalls meant it could only provide food assistance to under half of the people most in need.

"But with a quarter of Somalia’s population - 4.3 million people - forecast to face crisis-level hunger or worse... by the end of the year, the support of the humanitarian community remains a lifeline," it added.

"The end of over two years of drought that pushed the country to the brink of famine has brought little relief for families."

Millions affected

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha) reports that heavy rains and floods in Somalia have affected more than 1.2 million people – displacing 450,000 of them and killing at least 32 people.

People have difficulty walking along the road due to puddles formed on the streets after the downpour in Somalia's capital Mogadishu on 9 November 2023. (Photo by Abuukar Mohamed Muhidin / ANADOLU / Anadolu via AFP)

More heavy rains are expected in southern Somalia this week, with the risk of riverine and flash floods, especially in parts of Somaliland and Galmudug State.

According to the latest UN Somalia Situation Report dated 14 November, since early last month, rains have washed away roads, damaged bridges, flooded schools and inundated farmland with the damage being extensive.

The UN, authorities and partners have scaled up assistance, reaching nearly 680,000 people – roughly 55 per cent of those affected – across the country with food, water, sanitation and cash assistance.

UN agencies are also supporting the delivery of boats to help evacuate trapped people and deliver assistance.

More than 20 boats are already operating in flood-affected areas, and efforts are underway to deliver additional boats from Mogadishu.

More than 100,000 people who were cut off from market supplies in Doolow and Bardheere, Middle Juba region, are receiving food and non-food items by boat.

About half of the 400 families in Luuq, Jubaland, that were trapped by floods have been evacuated.

While needs are escalating, the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan for Somalia is less than 40 per cent funded and additional funds are urgently required to scale up and sustain the response.