OCHA Situation Report
Horn of Africa: Regional Floods
17 November 2006


Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Unusually heavy rains during the months of October and November have 
turned large parts of the Horn of Africa into flood disaster areas with 
loss of life, massive displacement, and loss of livelihoods and assets 
in particularly in Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia. Accumulated estimates 
from the three countries put the total number of affected people between 
1, 5 and 1, 8 million. Emergency response is being mounted by 
Governments in the affected countries, UN agencies, NGOs such as the Red 
Cross, and other humanitarian partners but the delivery of life saving 
supplies is obstructed by damaged or destroyed infrastructure, lack of 
fuel, and continuing heavy rains in the region. In addition to the 
immediate, life threatening events of floods, outbreaks of cholera have 
been detected and the incidence of diseases such as malaria is feared to 
increase dramatically as a result of flooding and subsequent stagnant 
water.

ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia's south-eastern Somali Region (population approx. 4, 7 million, 
predominantly pastoralists) is divided into seven administrative zones 
which in turn are sub-divided into woredas (districts). In the Gode zone 
8-10 such woredas have been severely affected by flooding making it the 
worst hit zone along with Liben and Afder zones.

The current inundations are attributable to a coincidence of three 
factors: Abnormally heavy Deyr rains (which fall in October-December) 
and pre-existing ground saturation have been coupled with heavy 
downpours in the adjacent highland areas.

Current emergency situation

Water levels are reportedly receding in Gode but humanitarian efforts to 
help thousands of people displaced by floods are being obstructed by the 
damage to region's limited transport infrastructure.

The Ethiopian Government estimates that some 360,000 people are affected 
by recent floods in the region; In late October the Wabi-Shebelle River 
burst its banks killing about 80 and causing displacement of thousands 
and disruption of livelihoods. The towns of Mustahil and Kelafo, south 
of Gode, the regional capital in the zone, have been worst hit by the 
floods. According to the Ethiopian Government an estimated 145,000 
people are affected in and around Mustahil and Kelafo alone.

At the same time, irrigation canals in the West Gode Zone have been 
completely destroyed by the floods, disrupting the livelihood of farming 
communities, which could have a longer term impact on the food security 
situation in the underdeveloped area.

Response

The Ethiopian Government, a number of UN agencies as well as NGOs are 
currently coordinating their response to the crisis both on the federal 
and regional level in the face of numerous operational constraints. An 
assessment team led by the Deputy Prime Minister has surveyed the 
affected region from helicopter and the Ethiopian National Defence Force 
has aided evacuation efforts and built protective dikes to reduce the 
scale of the disaster.

INGOs as well as UN agencies UNICEF, WHO, and OCHA are among the actors 
joining the effort to provide emergency food and non-food supplies. 
Airlift deliveries of 80 metric tonnes of food and non-food items 
provided by International Rescue Committee (IRC) have been made to Gode 
by the United States Military and the US Office of Foreign Disaster 
Assistance (OFDA/USAID) since 10 November. USAID announced 9 November 
that it will provide USD 37 million in emergency food assistance to 
support World Food Program (WFP) operations in Ethiopia.

Challenges and concerns

The main challenge in Somali Region is lack of access to the affected 
populations. The region's transport infrastructure consists largely of 
dirt roads which have been inundated. Helicopter transport is an urgent 
need for the delivery of life saving relief items. Furthermore, 
epidemics of water borne diseases have reportedly increased in the 
flooded areas due to stagnant water. High incidences of endemic water 
diseases, including Acute Watery Diarrhoea, malaria, and intestinal 
parasites, are also reported. Prices of non-staple food items have 
dramatically increased.

The problem is further exacerbated by the fact that the affected 
population's potential to cope with the disaster is near exhaustion due 
to the recurrent floods and droughts in the region. The situation is 
expected to worsen over the coming week due to anticipated heavy rains 
in the region.

SOMALIA

The widespread flooding along the Shabelle and Juba Rivers in Somalia is 
causing large-scale displacement of the population from northern Hiran 
Region to southern Lower Juba. In the north east, heavy rains have 
affected internally displaced persons (IDP) in Galkayo. OCHA is 
coordinating and exchanging information with local authorities in order 
to determine the number of affected IDPs and assess their need for 
immediate assistance.

Current emergency situation

Lower/Middle Juba, Benadir, Lower Shabelle, and Gedo regions have been 
affected by the recent floods and an estimated total of 900,000 to 1 
million people are affected. Reports dated 13 November indicate that 
flooding along the Shabelle and Juba River systems have killed at least 
10 people and displaced 12,000. 2,000 houses have been destroyed after 
torrential rains caused the West Shabelle River to burst its banks at 
Middle Shabelle. In the Lower Shabelle, where flooding was less severe, 
six people died.

The town of Jowhar and the surrounding areas have been devastated by the 
flooding of the Shabelle River. Torrential rainfall is also affecting 
road transport and supply of much-needed relief items and food as the 
roads between Jowhar and Mogadishu and Jowhar to Beletweyne have been 
cut off. 5 deaths and destruction of crop land, houses, and livestock 
have been reported in Balad.

The rains in Somalia and in the adjacent Ethiopian highlands have also 
caused localized flooding in southwestern Gedo, the second largest 
region of Somalia bordering Ethiopia and Kenya. Over the weekend 11-12 
November the Shabelle River in Hiran hit a 50-year flood level, 
submerging the river gauging site and the main bridge and inundating the 
entire town of

Beletweyne resulting in an estimated 50,000 displacements and 15,000 
people cut off and 10,000 affected in surrounding villages. An estimated 
74,000 people are in need of immediate assistance. Given recorded river 
levels and previous flooding, the situation is expected to deteriorate 
in Jowhar, Middle Shabelle, and along the Juba River. Neither of the 
Somalia Rivers have absorptive capacity with only two operational canals 
in place. The capital Mogadishu has also been affected with heavy rains 
reported in Benadir. There is a high risk of water-borne diseases 
occurring.

Response

Priority needs remain shelter, water purification, and blankets, 
followed by food. Food relief, shelter materials and tens of thousands 
of mosquito nets and sandbags have been provided by the WFP, UNICEF, 
WHO, and a number of NGOs, including CARE and CONCERN.

Owing to the serious access problems, SCF and other agencies are trying 
to support quick actions including delivery of Non-food items (NFI), 
insecticide treated mosquito bed nets (ITN), food aid and water 
purification equipment to the affected population. UNDP has established 
a radio system network in Jowhar for fast communication on rising river 
levels.

ICRC has distributed 230,000 sand bags over the past 3 months in 
Shabelle and Juba and continues to assist displaced population through 
its Somali staff in various regions. CARE has distributed close to 9,400 
sandbags in Lower Shabelle. It has also received a request of additional 
50,000 sandbags. CARE Somalia has offered to take the lead for the 
flood-assessment in Merka, and UNICEF is working through coordination 
centres in Jowhar and Mogadishu.

Challenges and concerns

Due to the on-going heavy rains and poor road conditions, relief 
supplies cannot be delivered overland from Mogadishu. Food deliveries 
remain hampered by access difficulties in many parts of South and 
Central Somalia. For instance, most of the roads in Bay and Bakool 
regions are impassable. In addition, the possibility of the Deyr season 
(October-December) extending into 2007 may result in continued heavy 
rains and flooding in the coming months.

Based on the latest flood-watch reports from Somalia Water and Land 
Information Management (SWALIM) unit, the situation could get worse for 
the Juba Region, after the Juba River topped its banks last week, 
killing people and sending thousands of villagers fleeing to higher 
ground. The Kenyan Government's suspension of flights to and from 
Somalia from 11 November has been lifted for humanitarian flight 
although a 24 hours advance clearance is required.

KENYA

The initial effect of the mild El Nino, which is a contributing factor 
to the flooding, was seen in early October when heavy rains caused 
flooding in Isiolo, Garissa, Lodwar, Moyale,Wajir, Mandera, and Kwale 
districts. 19 people died and 1,800 were displaced due to the flooding 
which also damaged the household property of 30,000 people.

The Kenya Red Cross responded with emergency food and non-food supplies. 
Between 15 and 17 October, Mombasa town on the coast and Moyale in 
northern Kenya received 110 mm and 124 mm of rain respectively. As a 
result of these rains, 11 people died in Kilifi and Kwale on the coast, 
whilst five children died as a result of a landslide in Mombasa.

Natural disaster coordination in Kenya is managed jointly by the Office 
of the President and the Kenya Red Cross. The main national coordinating 
structure for natural disasters is the Rapid- Onset Disaster Committee. 
The UN Resident Coordinator's Office and UN OCHA support UN coordination 
and work in partnership with the Office of the President.

Current emergency situation

The Kenya Red Cross estimates that 207,000 are affected by the floods 
country wide, while the Office of the President estimates that the 
number may reach 500,000. The Kenya Red Cross launched an emergency 
appeal 16 November for 562 million Kenya Shillings (7.9 million USD) to 
assist 300,000 people with non-food items such as shelter and blankets, 
medical kits, emergency latrine construction, health education and 
transport.

Over the weekend of 11 and 12 November, torrential rains in 
north-eastern Kenya and the coastal areas of the country killed over 20 
people and displaced nearly 20,000 making the rains by far the most 
devastating this year. Destruction of infrastructure has been most 
severe in Kwale on the coast, with 5 bridges and numerous roads 
destroyed. The Kenya Red Cross says that 60,000 people have been 
affected by the floods on the coast.

The three Somali refugee camps at Dadaab in the north have been severely 
affected by inundation. Two refugees were killed over the past weekend 
and UNHCR has described the flooding as catastrophic. Sanitation 
facilities and refugee houses are severely damaged, particularly in Ifo 
camp, and water provision is disrupted. UNHCR estimates that 90 per cent 
of the Ifo population - nearly 60,000 people - have been directly 
affected by the floods and diarrhoea cases have risen dramatically. In 
Dagahaley camp over 200 latrines have collapsed and over 1,900 refugee 
houses damaged. Roads to Dadaab have been rendered impassable leading to 
a major disruption of WFP food supplies. The WFP emergency food aid 
programme in Northeastern Province has suffered similar disruption 
because of flooded roads in Garissa, Wajir, Tana River, and Mandera. 
Roads have been severely damaged in Wajir.

After the coastal areas, the Kenya Red Cross says that North-eastern 
Province is the worst affected region in Kenya, with two deaths in 
Garissa and three children missing in Saretho and Bakuyu. 17,000 people 
have been displaced in Garissa and 2,000 in Mandera. The town of El Wak 
in Mandera is currently under water and 3,000 people have been displaced 
in Moyale. Tana River and Ijoro are virtually cut off with roads 
impassable and air strips under water.

The rains have also reached western districts and in Busia district six 
people are reported dead after being attacked by a hippo.

The Ministry of Health in Mombasa has issued a cholera alert. The Chief 
Public Health Officer in the Ministry of Health has reported that 94 
suspected cases of cholera were reported between 20 October and 11 
November on the coast. 13 have proved to be positive for cholera. There 
have been at least two deaths from cholera on the coast since October. 
Water sources are contaminated, drainage systems have collapsed, and 
water pipes have been washed away.

There are similar fears for public health in Dadaab, where the damage to 
water systems has seen refugees using flood water for drinking purposes. 
The rains have also delayed the completion of an emergency polio 
campaign in five north-eastern districts, which began on 4 November, 
after two cases of polio were confirmed in the Dadaab camps.

Response

The Kenya Red Cross (KRC) has been the key agency in responding to the 
needs of the displaced and flood affected households. KRC has conducted 
emergency assessments in the majority of areas in Kenya affected by the 
heavy rains distributed relief items such as blankets, kitchen sets, 
jerry cans, tarpaulins, soap, bladder tanks, and food stuff. The Red 
Cross has also pre-positioned relief stocks in Garissa, Kwale and 
Kisumu.

The Kenyan Government has sent five engineers down to the coast to 
assess requirements for roads and bridges repairs. The Kenyan Army has 
been involved in aerial assessments and has dropped relief supplies in 
the affected areas of the coast. 6 MT of food was distributed in coastal 
districts 15 November by the Government. The Ministry of Health is 
establishing emergency health management measures, particularly in 
dealing with the sharp rise in diarrhoea cases.

UNICEF has sent medical kits and chlorine to the Ministry of Health on 
the coast and is attempting to get chlorine to Dadaab. WFP has food 
stocks in the affected districts and at Dadaab as part of their EMOP. 
However, WFP has commercial trucks stuck on many roads in Northeastern 
Province. UNHCR and partner agencies in Dadaab such as UNICEF, WFP, GTZ, 
and CARE are involved in emergency food distributions, mobile clinics, 
and water rehabilitation for the refugees. NGOs such as World Vision, 
CARITAS and OXFAM are examining what emergency responses they can 
support in the coming days.

Challenges and concerns

The weather predictions over the next 2-3 weeks in Kenya are 
threatening. Above normal rain is expected in the Rift Valley, central 
highlands, north-eastern and western districts. Severe rains in southern 
Ethiopia will have an impact on northern Kenya. Rains in the central 
highlands will inundate areas in the surrounding plains. The main health 
concerns are an increase in malaria and diarrhoeal disease (including 
cholera) due to water contamination as well as increased malnutrition 
and respiratory infections due to inadequate shelter.

In conclusion to the cholera assessment in the Coast Province, the Chief 
Public Health Officer notes that while Kwale is almost controlling the 
outbreak (last case reported on 2 November), new cases were still being 
reported as later as 11 November 2006 in Mombasa. The Government, UN 
agencies, and the Red Cross are facing acute logistical constraints with 
so many roads rendered impassable in the coastal areas and eastern parts 
of the country. In addition, there is an apparent shortage of both fixed 
wing and helicopter air capacity in Kenya.

UNHCR is acutely concerned that the dykes at Dagahaley IDP cam (part of 
the Dadaab IDP camp complex) are in a precarious state due to the 
flooding. If the dykes collapse because of the weight of water, the camp 
would be completely flooded. Possible refugee re-location exercises may 
have to be considered if the flooding worsens in Dadaab. Shelter, 
sanitation and water provision has to be rapidly improved in Dadaab.

There are serious shortages of non-food item (NFI) stocks in Kenya and 
these will need to be replenished. This remains a priority for the Kenya 
Red Cross. Weather forecast Horn of Africa The below weather forecast 
from FEWSNET predict heavy rains in areas already affected by flooding 
in the Horn of Africa. The scale indicates mm of rain over the coming 
seven days, red indicating the heaviest rainfalls.

The information in this document is consolidated from reports and field 
information from a variety of sources including OCHA field staff, UN 
agencies, Government partners, NGOs, and news agencies.

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