UN says 800,000 Somalis threatened by flooding displacement

GENEVA: The United Nations migration agency warns that over 800,000 people in Somalia could be forced from their homes within the next three months due to flooding. As Somalia enters its rainy season, above-average rainfall is anticipated to be exacerbated by the strengthening El Nino weather phenomenon, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Preliminary projections by IOM and the Danish Refugee Council estimate that 874,319 individuals may be displaced between October and December, with flooding responsible for 92% of the projected displacement. Manuel Marques Pereira, the IOM's chief of mission for Somalia, emphasizes the severity of the situation, noting that many families have already been displaced and lack the resources to recover.

The IOM stresses that there remains a window of opportunity to mitigate the impact, but it is rapidly closing. The agency urgently requires funding to assist families in safeguarding their homes and livelihoods, relocating to safer areas if necessary, and preventing a further cycle of displacement. Currently, the IOM has only secured 14% of the US$16.62 million required to prepare for and respond to El Nino-related flooding.

Evidence of flooding is already apparent, with rivers nearing flood levels, reaching their banks, and homes being damaged by heavy rainfall. The IOM warns that the immediate threat to homes extends beyond this, as rising floodwaters could lead to the destruction of crops, contamination of water sources, and the disruption of essential services.

The UN weather agency reports that the current El Nino may be unprecedented in its strength, and the UN aid chief has stressed the immediate need for supplies in Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya ahead of the predicted heavy rains.