Shukri Abdi Osman, a mother of three, finds herself in a camp for displaced families after flash floods devastated Dolow, Somalia, destroying homes and livelihoods.
Around 700 families, like Osman’s, fled as the floods engulfed parts of Dolow. Osman, the family’s breadwinner, is now in an internally displaced persons (IDP) settlement.
Osman recounts the devastating floods, leaving her family with no time to collect belongings. Her once-thriving fruit and vegetable kiosk is gone, and her property is destroyed.
With toilets destroyed and tap water mixed with dirty floodwater, disease becomes a threat. Osman expresses concern for her daughter’s health, fearing malaria and typhoid contraction.
Somalia declared a state of emergency due to “once-in-a-century” flooding, causing nearly 100 deaths and displacing 700,000. El Nino-related rains follow a severe 40-year drought.
Somalia, vulnerable to climate change, faces deep poverty and an Islamist insurgency, hindering its ability to cope with crises.
In 1997-1998, a severe El Nino episode claimed 1,800 lives in Somalia. The current floods wash away homes, schools, farmland, and infrastructure, leaving many without essentials.
Mohamed Dahir from Mercy Corps notes the risk of a malaria outbreak due to mosquitoes and concerns about watery diarrhea from water system contamination.
OCHA reports 33 deluged districts in Somalia, with increased cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) or cholera and rising malaria cases.
Sadia Sharif Hassan, a mother of seven, highlights the struggle for survival in Dolow’s IDP camp, where mosquito bites and illness are rampant among children.
Mohamed Abdirahman, a 70-year-old in Garboolow, faces despair as her home is swept away. Her family relies on well-wishers for food and clothing.
Somalia, caught in a cycle of drought and floods, seeks aid. Garboolow commissioner Mursal Mohamed Adan expresses concern that ongoing rains could worsen the situation.
Osman, Hassan, and Abdirahman symbolize the plight of countless families grappling with displacement, loss, and the looming threat of disease.
As Somalia awaits aid, the devastating impact of the floods underscores the urgent need for international assistance in the face of environmental challenges and humanitarian crises.