Flash Floods in the Horn of Africa Claim Lives of Over 100 Individuals
The Horn of Africa region has been hit hard by flash floods and heavy rainfall, resulting in the deaths of at least 111 people. Save the Children reported these tragedies, as well as the displacement of over 770,000 individuals due to the extreme weather conditions. Kenya, Somalia, and Ethiopia have been particularly affected. Forecasts predict more rainfall for the region in the near future.
The aid organization Save the Children has reported that flash floods and widespread flooding following heavy rainfall since October have accounted for at least 46 deaths and displaced 36,000 people in northern Kenya, including the capital, Nairobi. Beledweyne, the Somali regional capital, has been devastated, with about 90% of its residents losing their homes due to flooding. In total, at least 32 people have been killed and nearly half a million displaced in Somalia, primarily in the southwestern Bay region.
In neighboring Ethiopia, at least 33 individuals, including eight children, have lost their lives due to floods and landslides in the Gambella, Afar, and Somali regions.
The region has been experiencing a series of extreme weather events. The Horn of Africa is also battling one of the most severe droughts in decades. Before the heavy rainfall, the region had experienced a prolonged dry spell. The United Nations warns that millions of people in the Horn of Africa are at risk of hunger. The crisis is being exacerbated by conflicts, like the recent power struggle in Sudan, the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, threats from Islamist terrorists, and outbreaks of diseases such as cholera.
The drought in the Horn of Africa has worsened the situation, leading to increased food insecurity among the region's residents. Climate change-induced weather patterns are bringing both drought and unexpected storms, resulting in flooding in various areas. The heavy rains and subsequent flooding in Kenya and other areas have regrettably resulted in further casualties and displacement.
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Insights from aid and relief efforts in the affected regions:
- UNHCR response in South Sudan, Sudan, and various other countries includes dyke construction, infrastructure projects, cash distributions, and support for protection, health, and water and sanitation services.
- Additional funding and support have been sought through UN appeals and the release of additional funds by the UN for flood response in Nigeria.
These relief efforts aim to provide immediate aid, improve resilience, and support long-term recovery in the affected regions of the Horn of Africa.
