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Displaced households return home as flood waters in Somalia subside

Sokorey, a resident in flood-hit Baidoa. (Photo: OCHA/Ayub Ahmed)

By Paul Aginnah | Wednesday, January 3, 2024

An estimated 2.48 million people have been affected by the floods, with 1.2 million forced to leave their homes and 118 lives lost.

Displaced households in Somalia are slowly making their way back to their homes as dry conditions prevail across the country.

Recent weeks have seen a gradual decrease in water levels in the Juba and Shabelle rivers, further helping to alleviate the widespread flooding that has affected millions.

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However, while the situation is improving, there are still challenges that need to be addressed.

According to the Somalia Disaster Management Agency, an estimated 2.48 million people have been affected by the floods, with 1.2 million forced to leave their homes and 118 lives lost. The floods have also damaged 224 schools, disrupting the education of thousands of children.

Food prices

Despite this, food prices have been stable across most states.

This is thanks to the restoration of supply chains and improved road conditions, which have made it easier to transport goods to markets that were previously cut off by floods.

According to OCHA Somalia, despite the improvements, there is still a long way to go.

The 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) in Somalia requires $2.6 billion to adequately address the needs of 7.6 million people affected by the floods.

However, only 42.7 per cent of the necessary funding, amounting to $1.1 billion, has been received so far. Additional funds are urgently needed to meet the immediate needs of those affected.

Displaced households are slowly returning home, but there is a risk of water and vector-borne diseases due to stagnant floodwaters in vulnerable areas.

The damaged schools also pose a significant obstacle to the education of children.