OCHA Situation Report No. 1
Somalia: Floods
10 November 2006


This report is based on information received from OCHA Somalia.

Situation

1. The Office of OCHA Somalia has expressed concern over the impact on 
the population of very heavy rains during the last ten days of October, 
which resulted in localised flooding along both the Shabelle and Juba 
Rivers. The Juba and Shabelle Valleys, Gedo, Bay, parts of Hiran, and 
central regions all received rains of up to 250mm each. Along the 
Shabelle, river levels remained within normal recorded levels. Later, 
the higher levels recorded in Ethiopia translated into higher levels 
downstream in Bulo Burti, Mahade Weyne and Jowhar, leading to localised 
flooding.

2. Exact figures of number of people affected are hard to determine. 
Preliminary estimates of people affected indicate that the village of 
Huriwa was completely flooded (five people were reported dead: two 
elderly and three children) and residents have moved to elevated land. 
Their most urgent need is food and shelter.

3. Flooding is impacting on access. Several primary roads - including 
those from Wajid to Baidoa, Kismayo to Mogadishu, and Kamsuma to Jilib 
and Kismayo - have become impassable, while access to Jowhar and Marerey 
was severely restricted. The temporary relocation of key staff following 
security incidents in September is also limiting access.

4. The possibility of an extended Deyr season in 2007 due to a weak El 
Nino may result in continued heavy rain and flooding in the coming 
months.

National and International Response

5. A rapid floods needs assessment tool has been finalised by the Flood 
Working Group and is currently being field tested through inter-agency 
assessments. Partners are looking into conducting an aerial survey over 
affected regions.

Shabelle River

In Hiran region:

During an inter-agency meeting on 5 November, partners reported that 
some villages have been deserted owing to fears of flooding. Due to 
river overflow in Beletweyn town, people living in Koshin and Haswa 
section of Beletweyn have started to move to the outskirts. Excess river 
water has reportedly passed Abaaley near the Ethiopian border, and 
malaria outbreaks have emerged in Beletweyne due to standing river 
water.  Reportedly 11 villages are flooded in Jalalaqsi district. While 
rains diminished in the last week, agencies agreed to conduct brief 
surveys on the flood effects in villages surrounding Beletweyne.

In Middle Shabelle:

Flood coordination meetings are held regularly in Jowhar with 
participation of the local Islamic Courts Union (ICU) administration. 
According to information exchanged on 5 November, the villages of 
Huriwa, Eji, Mansuur, Diinlaawe, and Duduble are the most affected in 
Jowhar district. In an assessment conducted in and around Johwar and 
Mahadey areas, fifteen villages were found to be surrounded by water. 
Exact figures of number of people affected are hard to determine. Huriwa 
was completely flooded (five people were reported dead: two elderly and 
three children) and residents have moved to elevated land. Their most 
urgent need is food and shelter.

Due to its improper use, river water from the Chinese Canal has flooded 
the road between Buurane and Dhiingaras.

The ICU and the International Islamic Relief Organisation (IIRO) are 
tying to deliver food to the flood displaced in Huriwa but access is 
proving difficult. IIRO has 400 bags of maise and 400kg of oil provided 
by UNICEF available for Huriwa and nearby villages. UNICEF has provided 
a boat for the ICU and MSF is to distribute Insecticide Treated Nets 
(ITN) to villages around Mahaday. UNICEF has dispatched 30,000 ITN to 
MSF and is planning to give a further 25,000 ITN to INTERSOS.

UNDP has established a radio system network in Jowhar for fast 
communication of rising river levels.

In Lower Shabelle:

A bi/weekly flood inter-agency coordination mechanism has been set up in 
Merka, to be chaired by CARE. At the latest meeting on 7 November, CARE 
reported 16 villages were worse hit by the flooding:  Jasiira, Gaywarow, 
Haduuman, Buulo Sheekh, Farxaan, Abdi Ali, Bandar- Janaale, Adimoole, 
Wagaadi, Mushaani, Majabto, Muraale, Bulukoy, Tawakal, Malable and 
Qoroley town. According to information received from health centres in 
Kurtunwarey, malaria cases are on the rise. CONCERN conducted a rapid 
assessment and identified nine villages in Kurtunwaray district 
(Towfiiq, Dheyney, Aflow, Bulo Warbo, Muruqmaal, Reydabley, Duuray, 
Garawley and Kobratiibo) that were flooded. The flooding is exacerbated 
by the fact that the river is silted, blocking downstream flow. The 
river banks are weak thus villages are susceptible to even more 
flooding. Underground food storage, irrigated and farmed land are 
reportedly damaged. Damage to crops is still hard to quantify.

Priorities identified: distribution of sandbags, mosquito nets and 
enhanced coordination. Among the challenges are access, lack of 
preparedness and early warning, and insecurity. One of the immediate 
needs is the provision of boats to reach out to stranded villages.

CARE has pre-positioned 11,000 sandbags and as of 7 November has 
distributed 9,400 in Qoroley and Merka districts. CONCERN too is 
distributing gunny bags. COSV is planning to distribute 34,020 treated 
mosquito nets and malaria drugs to flood affected villages in Qoroley, 
Merka and Kurtunwarey districts. Of the three, Kurtunwarey is the worse 
affected.

Juba River

Generally, given the limited presence of organisations in regions along 
the Juba Valley, information remains harder to collect and corroborate. 
Organisations operating in this area will be contacted to look into 
capacities for response and sharing of information.

In Gedo region:

Reports of flooding and displacement have triggered a joint assessment 
which is being carried out between 3 -15 November in Dolow, Luuq, 
Garbaharey, Burdubo and Bardera districts.

In Lower and Middle Juba regions:

Information is particularly hard to corroborate in these regions and 
unlike previous years, no coordination meetings or assessments are 
taking place owing to the reduced presence as well as heightened 
insecurity. Buale's river gauging station is reported to have reached 
its maximum since 1997. According to field reports, areas around Buale 
town are flooded, while access on the east bank of the river is 
restricted. Boats are ferrying people and goods between the eastside 
villages. Marerey is also reportedly inaccessible by road and people 
have to cross with small boats and on foot. In Jamame, the road between 
Kamsuma and and Jilin is unusable.

The ICU is repairing broken dykes with the help of local communities.

Telephone:+41-22-91712 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel.   +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:
  GVA - Mr. Martijn Viersma
    E-mail:  viersmam@un.org
    Direct Tel.+41-22-917 1518
  NYC - Ms. Federica D'Andreagiovanni
    E-mail: dandreagiovannif@un.org
    Direct Tel. + 1-917 367 2236

Press contact:
  GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
  NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker, Tel. +1-917-367 51 26

OCHA Somalia:
  Mr. Matthew Olins, Deputy Head of Office
    E-mail: olins@un.org, Tel. +254 20 375 4150/4155

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