Flood crisis worsens in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia

Flooding at the Shabelle river in Somalia. Photo: SHACDO

News1 November 2019Tony Cuddihy

Heavy and prolonged rains in parts of the Horn of Africa have affected hundreds of thousands of people in Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia.

At least 29 people have died in Kenya since the heavy downpours began in early October.

Wajir county is one of the hardest hit areas, with rains driving flash floods, mudslides and landslides affecting more than 100,000 people.

The floods have damaged infrastructure, including roads and bridges, and access to food, education and healthcare have been compromised.

Food and shelter

Concern are in the process of gathering resources to provide food and shelter to those people most badly affected in the area.

In Ethiopia, heavy and prolonged rains have brought about repeated episodes of flooding in the Afar, Oromia, SNNP and Somali regions.

More than 202,000 people have been displaced due to the hazardous conditions, with the majority of 127,500 in the Somali region.

Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced by the flooding. Photo: SHACDO

In Kenya, Concern is accessing ECHO ALERT emergency funding to address the priority needs of the most affected households, including emergency shelter and food needs.

With the support of OFDA, through its Emergency Nutrition and WASH Rapid Response Capacity programme in Ethiopia, Concern stands ready to respond to Emergency Nutrition, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene needs, in coordination with other partners.

Early response activities

Southern parts of Somalia have also seen flooding and heavy rains.

We are seeking funds from Irish Aid to implement early response activities to the flood crisis across South Central Somalia, where the most vulnerable communities close to the Shabelle river are at risk.

Together with our local partner SHACDO, we will strategically locate sandbags along the most vulnerable parts of the river, while also distributing vital Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) kits - including water treatment tablets, jerry cans, soap and mosquito nets – to those most vulnerable.

We are also working with SHACDO to continue the collection and sharing of early flood warning information, while SHACDO will also start disease surveillance through their clinics.

And the Somali Cash Consortium, of which Concern is the lead organisation, are distributing emergency cash transfers to 12,000 people so that they can rebuild shelters, purchase hygiene items and access food.