The Banadir Regional Administration confirmed that 11 of the fatalities occurred in Mogadishu, where heavy rainfall on May 9–10 led to widespread damage.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that more than 84,000 people have been affected nationwide, though some areas remain dry—particularly in Puntland and Somaliland—where drought conditions continue to impact pasture and water availability.

In Mogadishu’s Kahda and Daynile districts, assessments by the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) Cluster found that flash floods affected over 3,810 households (approximately 22,500 people), displacing 430 households (2,580 people).

Six major roads in the capital were submerged, operations at the international airport were briefly suspended, and key humanitarian supplies were at risk after a storage container for an international agency was partially submerged.

In addition to Mogadishu, movement and logistics have been disrupted along key supply corridors in Belet Weyne, Baidoa, Doolow, and the Mogadishu–Kismayo coastal road.

Hirshabelle State: Flood Emergency in Middle Shabelle and Hiraan

On May 12, heavy downpours in Middle Shabelle and Hiraan regions triggered flash floods in Jowhar and Balcad districts.

According to the UNHCR Protection and Solutions Monitoring Network (PSMN), approximately 16,200 people in Jowhar were impacted, including displaced persons whose shelters and sanitation facilities were destroyed.

On May 16, the Shabelle River overflowed in Baarey village, flooding farmland and prompting new displacement in nearby Lebiga and Xaanshooley villages.

The Hirshabelle State authorities said floods displaced at least 1,450 households (8,700 people) in Jowhar IDP camps and another 620 households (3,720 people) in Balcad.

The overflowing Shabelle River also cut off the road connecting Xawaadley to Jowhar and Balcad, forcing hundreds of families to flee to Xawaadley town.

Galmudug State: Lightning Strike and Health Concerns

Moderate rains fell on May 9 in Dhuusamarreeb and Cabudwaaq. A lightning strike in Cabudwaaq’s main market reportedly killed a woman and injured two others.

Another fatality was reported in Qaansole village near Dhuusamarreeb.

Health officials at Gaalkacyo South Referral Hospital have recorded a rise in suspected Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD)/cholera cases, with 22 patients currently admitted.

Jubaland State: Shelter Damage and Displacement

In Baardheere district, heavy rains on May 5 damaged shelters in 54 IDP sites. In Buurdhuubo, local authorities and humanitarian partners reported that 3,740 households were affected, with shelters of over 2,000 households severely damaged.

Some displaced families have sought refuge with host communities.

Puntland State: Localized Floods, Widespread Drought

While most of Puntland remains dry, flash floods in mid-April affected 27,000 people in Bari and Nugaal regions.

The flooding subsided within days, and most affected residents have returned to normal life.

Light rains have since been received, providing limited relief for nomadic pastoralist communities that make up over 70 percent of the region’s population.

Somaliland: Limited and Uneven Rainfall

Partners report that rains in Somaliland have been minimal and below normal. While Hargeisa received moderate rains in early May, no precipitation has been recorded since May 13.

The ongoing dry conditions, particularly in Awdal region, continue to impact pastoralist livelihoods.

South West State: Rising River Levels and Flood Threat

The Shabelle River has reached critical levels in Afgooye district, posing a high risk of flooding.

Already, 273 households in surrounding villages such as Balguri, Aaytire, Damaley, Raqayle, and Siigaale have been affected. In Baidoa, flash floods since mid-April have impacted internally displaced persons in 78 sites, with at least 760 households (3,193 people) affected.

Banadir Region: Infrastructure Damage and Urgent Humanitarian Needs

The Banadir Regional Administration reported extensive damage from the recent floods in Mogadishu, including the submergence of at least 200 houses and damage to nine roads.

Officials have issued an urgent appeal for humanitarian assistance for displaced and affected communities.

According to the FAO Somalia Water and Land Information Management (SWALIM) unit, rainfall is expected to decrease in the coming days, with only light showers forecasted for Lower Juba, Hiraan, and Mudug.

Most of Puntland, Somaliland, and parts of central and southern Somalia are expected to remain dry.

Despite the destruction, the rains have improved water and pasture availability in many areas, boosting agricultural activity and providing much-needed relief from prolonged dry conditions.

However, humanitarian partners warn that immediate support is critical for those displaced or affected by the flooding.

–

(With additional information from UNOCHA, FAO and UNHCR)

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The 16th session of the sixth parliamentary sitting was held at the Parliament headquarters in Mogadishu on Saturday and was chaired by Speaker Sheikh Adan Mohamed Nur (Madobe).

The IDPs Bill, first introduced in May 2023, had faced repeated delays due to political instability and ongoing security challenges that have disrupted legislative proceedings under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud’s administration.

After more than a year of inaction, MP Mukhtar Mohamed and several colleagues reintroduced the motion last week, urging swift parliamentary action.

“I urge the MPs once again to consider fast-tracking this agenda, which is of great importance,” MP Mukhtar told the House, highlighting the looming mid-term parliamentary recess.

During Saturday’s session, MP Abdulqadir Barako, a member of the Human Rights Committee, presented the third reading of the IDPs Bill, which incorporated feedback and debates from earlier sessions. The bill was passed with overwhelming support: 136 MPs voted in favor, 4 opposed, and none abstained.

Parliament also approved the Bill on Civil Registration and Civil Status Statistics, with 136 MPs voting in favor, one against, and five abstaining.

A complex mix of conflict, insecurity, natural disasters, and weak governance structures has resulted in an influx of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Somalia.

As of May 2024, Somalia hosts approximately 3.86 million IDPs, according to UNHCR.

The majority of these IDPs reside in over 2,000 informal settlements across the country, often lacking adequate shelter, sanitation, and access to essential services.

Speaker Sheikh Adan Madobe confirmed the passage of both bills, calling it a significant step toward addressing humanitarian needs and strengthening civil administration.

“Members of the House of the People of the Federal Parliament of Somalia today approved Bills on IDPs and Civil Registration and Status,” he said.

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Liban Aw-Khalif, Director of Water Management at the ministry, told Kaab TV that some residents in the hardest-hit areas have begun to flee their homes due to the crisis.

“Burhakaba is among the worst-affected areas, where a single barrel of water [200 litres] now costs over $7—an amount beyond the reach of many families,” he said.

Somalia is still grappling with the aftermath of the devastating 2020–2023 drought and the severe floods of late 2023 and mid-2024.

However, experts warn that the country may be heading toward yet another prolonged dry spell.

A January report by UN humanitarian agencies underscored how repeated climate shocks—coupled with decades of conflict, poverty, and governance challenges—have weakened coping mechanisms, heightened dependence on aid, and undermined resilience.

Rising temperatures and erratic rainfall driven by climate change are expected to exacerbate water scarcity, reduce agricultural productivity, and increase the frequency of extreme weather events by 2030.

According to Aw-Khalif, out of 70 water wells monitored by the ministry across South West State, many are drying up.

“In some areas, there are no wells at all. Among the 70 wells currently under our system, reports indicate that water levels are dropping, and people are losing hope,” he said.

In border towns such as Aato and Yeed, residents are crossing into Ethiopia in search of water, where high prices for water transported by trucks add to their burden.

Authorities warn that if the drought persists without urgent intervention, the crisis could escalate into a full-scale humanitarian emergency. Displacement is already rising as families struggle to secure water, while livestock losses and agricultural failures mount.

Compounding the crisis, insecurity remains a significant challenge in many parts of South West State, where Al-Shabaab militants continue to pose a threat, and ongoing clan conflicts further add to the suffering of local communities.

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The report reveals that in 2022, over 55 million people in seven out of eight IGAD member states were in dire need of immediate food assistance, representing an increase of more than 13 million people compared to the previous year.

The report, known as the IGAD Regional Focus of the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2023, sheds light on the escalating levels of acute food insecurity in the region. The GRFC, an annual publication by the Food Security Information Network (FSIN) in support of the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC), highlights the pressing nature of the situation.

The numbers are staggering, with 55.45 million people across Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda requiring urgent food assistance in 2022. This marks the highest number of acutely food-insecure individuals in the region over the past five years. The report also emphasizes the dire circumstances faced by 301,000 people who experienced a catastrophic level of food insecurity (IPC Phase 5) in 2022, with Somalia and South Sudan accounting for the majority of these cases.

The population facing acute food insecurity in IGAD member states has been rapidly increasing since 2020, with over 10 million additional people affected each year. Multiple factors contribute to this worsening situation, including a three-year drought in the Horn of Africa, devastating floods in South Sudan, ongoing conflicts, and economic challenges exacerbated by the impacts of COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine.

Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, the Executive Secretary of IGAD, highlighted the link between hunger levels and climate extremes, disasters, conflicts, and economic shocks. In the report’s foreword, Dr. Gebeyehu stressed the spiraling consequences for tens of millions of people, including children, men, and women in the region.

Projections for 2023 paint a grim picture, as up to 30 million people are expected to require humanitarian food assistance in Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. Among them, an estimated 7.5 million people in these countries are projected to face large food consumption gaps and adopt emergency coping measures (IPC Phase 4). Furthermore, over 83,000 individuals are anticipated to face extreme food scarcity (IPC Phase 5) in the most severely affected areas, particularly in Somalia and South Sudan. These projections do not even account for the recent clashes in Sudan, which are likely to exacerbate an already dire food insecurity situation.

While the March-May 2023 rains may bring some relief from the worst drought in the Horn of Africa in over four decades, the region will continue to grapple with the catastrophic consequences in the years to come.

The recovery of pastoral and agropastoral livelihoods from the devastating three-year drought will require significant time, and humanitarian assistance will remain critical until households and communities can fully recover.

Conflict in Sudan

In Sudan, the ongoing conflict is expected to rapidly deteriorate food security and nutrition, especially in Khartoum and the Darfur region. By mid-May, more than 1 million people had already been displaced, with approximately 843,000 internally displaced and over 250,000 seeking refuge in neighboring countries.

Rukia Yacoub, the World Food Programme’s (WFP) Deputy Regional Director for Eastern Africa, highlighted the far-reaching impact of Sudan’s conflict on the entire region. Yacoub noted the escalating levels of food insecurity and malnutrition as hundreds of thousands of people flee to neighboring countries, placing additional strain on already scarce humanitarian resources.

The magnitude of the challenges facing Eastern Africa calls for immediate and coordinated action to alleviate the suffering of millions affected by acute food insecurity.

The IGAD Executive Secretary emphasized the need for a paradigm shift to make progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 2 – Ending Hunger.

This shift includes building resilience against future shocks, transforming agricultural systems to be more efficient, inclusive, and sustainable, and prioritizing efforts to build and sustain peace. Dr. Gebeyehu stressed the interconnectedness of conflict and food insecurity, calling for bolder action to address the root causes.

Dr. Chimimba David Phiri, FAO’s Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa, echoed the urgency for collective action. Phiri highlighted the need to upscale anticipatory action and climate adaptation strategies to prevent future climate emergencies, as demonstrated by the three-year drought in the Horn of Africa. Additionally, sustainable peace-building efforts, increased domestic production, and reduced post-harvest losses are essential to address conflicts and global economic shocks affecting the IGAD region.

Addressing the dire food crises requires the collaboration of international organizations, governments, the private sector, regional organizations, civil society, and communities.

The report calls for aligned efforts and shared evidence and information, emphasizing the importance of long-term strategies to achieve sustainable food security in the region.

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Islamic Relief, a UK-based charity group, has criticized the “shameful” reaction thus far, emphasizing the dire situation faced by the region due to climate change.

Despite accounting for just 0.1% of global carbon emissions, Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya are disproportionately affected by the consequences of climate change. People in the three countries are currently enduring the longest recorded drought, devastating crops and livestock and pushing millions of people into severe hunger.

Tragically, tens of thousands, half of them young children, have already lost their lives. An estimated 43 million people, surpassing the whole population of Canada, now require assistance, with nearly 2 million children in Somalia facing life-threatening severe malnutrition.

According to the U.N, more than 43 million people across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia continue to suffer through one of the worst droughts in recent history, caused by five consecutive seasons of poor rains.

Waseem Ahmad, CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide, expressed deep concern, stating, “It is shameful that much of the world continues to overlook the immense suffering in the Horn of Africa. The resilience of the people in the region is remarkable, but no one can endure five consecutive failed rainy seasons and the destruction of their entire means of survival. Despite contributing the least to climate change, they are facing its harshest consequences.”

The soaring cost of food has pushed the most vulnerable families to the brink. Moreover, the agricultural sector, which accounts for a significant portion of Somalia’s economy, has been decimated, and over 13 million cattle have perished. Recent flash floods have compounded the food shortages, affecting already-struggling communities.

Despite the gravity of the crisis, the UN-led humanitarian response plan for the region remains significantly underfunded, with less than a quarter of the required funding secured to save lives and rebuild livelihoods.

During the conference, Islamic Relief has pledged £15 million ($18.6 million), surpassing the commitments of some wealthier nations. Many affluent countries, despite being major carbon emitters, have failed to contribute adequate funds to address the crisis.

“As global leaders convene in New York, families in Somalia are forced to make impossible choices about which child will eat today. Lives are at stake during this conference. Aid has made a tangible difference when delivered, saving many lives and preventing parts of Somalia from descending into famine. However, it often arrives too late and in insufficient quantities. Now, funding is decreasing again, and the threat of famine remains very real,” added Mr. Ahmad.

He stressed the need for long-term investments in livelihoods, acknowledging that even with favorable rainfall this year, it will take several years for farmers and pastoralists to rebuild their lives and restore their crops and herds. Urging for swift and flexible commitments, Ahmad emphasized the importance of disbursing funds promptly to maximize their impact.

The U.N Secretary-General, António Guterres delivered a stark warning while make a pledge to raise $7 billion for the region.

“With “crisis atop of crisis” threatening millions in the Horn of Africa, the international community cannot afford to stand idly by,” said Mr. Guterres.

As vulnerable communities in the region continue to grapple with extreme challenges, the international community must rise to the occasion and address this urgent humanitarian crisis.

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