874 000 people could be displaced in Somalia in 3 months: UN
IOM is working with Somali authorities to strengthen early warning systems.
Nearly 874,000 individuals could be displaced in Somalia within the next three months, according to a warning from the United Nations. Rising river levels and torrential rainfall, exacerbated by drought and previous displacement, pose a significant threat to vulnerable communities. Stephane Dujarric, a spokesperson for the UN, revealed this projection on Thursday.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Danish Refugee Council estimate that 92% of the displacement will be due to flooding as Somalia enters a rainy season, forecasted to produce above-average rainfall amid the intensifying El Niño phenomenon. The IOM is collaborating with Somali authorities to enhance early warning systems and prepare for emergency assistance, but the agency has only managed to secure 14% of the $16.6 million required to prepare for and react to El Niño-related occurrences.
With the funding shortfall, the majority of the anticipated response remains unfunded, leaving authorities and aid personnel unprepared for the impending flooding that could force hundreds of thousands of people from their homes.
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