Somalia, UN appeal for $72.5m to bolster floods relief efforts

Somali government and the UN Saturday launched a joint appeal for $72.5 million to support thousands affected by floods in the country.

According to a statement, the funds are aimed at implementing life-saving activities from November 2019 to January 2020.

The flooding which started late October has since displaced 370,000 from their homes and affected over half a million. Most of those affected were still recovering from the 2016/17 drought.

“The Government of Somalia is leading the humanitarian response efforts through the inter-ministerial committee,” said Hamza Said Hamza, the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management. “The efforts of the national actors and international partners including UN  and NGOs are important and well appreciated. But the needs of the affected communities are really huge in regard to shelter, clean water, food, health and protection. That is why we are issuing this plan.”

The floods have killed at least 17 people and livestock losses have also been reported.

The floods were triggered by moderate to heavy Deyr seasonal rains that began in early September in many parts of Somalia and the Ethiopian highlands, where the Juba and Shabelle rivers originate. Entire reaches of the two rivers have seen high water levels, resulting in flooding in HirShabelle, Jubaland and South West states. Flash flooding was also reported in Banadir region, Jowhar, Ceel Cade and Jamame, and some locations in South West State. The worst affected area is Belet Weyne, where overflow from the Shabelle river has displaced 231,000 people from their homes.

“The floods came at a time that 4.8 million Somalis were already in desperate need of assistance due, in part, to climate related cycles of drought and flooding,” said Adam Abdelmoula, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia. “It is important that donors, UN partners, the Federal Government of Somalia and Federal Member State authorities engage in a serious discussion on preventative development interventions.”

Meanwhile the Italian government said Saturday it had dispatched 22 tons of relief supplies to aid in the floods relief efforts.