The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) issued an urgent appeal on Thursday for international assistance to support some 45,000 people affected by severe flooding in Somalia.
Since April 15, moderate to heavy rainfall has struck several regions of the country, triggering flash floods that have claimed the lives of four people, including two children. On Monday, the Shabelle River overflowed in the Jowhar district, inundating over 11,000 hectares of land and forcing more than 6,000 residents to flee their homes.
In a statement released from Mogadishu, OCHA called on humanitarian partners to provide immediate support—particularly in shelter, sanitation, and relocation services. However, the overall humanitarian response remains under strain: NGOs, which are at the forefront of relief efforts, are grappling with severe budget constraints that hinder their ability to respond to the crisis.
The floods coincide with the Gu rainy season (April to June), which typically begins in mid-April across Somalia and the Ethiopian highlands, where the Juba and Shabelle rivers originate.
Ironically, after six months of prolonged drought, the rains have also brought some relief by replenishing water points and reviving pastureland.