Urgent Call: Somalia Seeks $230 Million for Vital Flood Recovery and Aid for 2.5 Million People

The latest Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report, jointly prepared and unveiled today by the Government with support from the United Nations, World Bank, and the European Union, lays bare the staggering US$176 million in damage and loss inflicted by the 2023 Deyr floods across sixteen districts. The catastrophe claimed 188 lives and displaced over 2 million individuals.

The report highlights that direct damages to critical sectors like agriculture, water and sanitation, and education topped US$126.6 million, with losses totaling US$49.5 million. Agriculture and livestock demand the largest recovery investment, followed by transport and housing.

“The recent floods wrought havoc on homes and lives in Somalia, impacting millions and exacerbating the vulnerability of an already fragile population. As we tread the road to recovery, our unified endeavors must focus on resilience, inclusiveness, and sustainable disaster management solutions for the nation. United with our partners, our pledge is to rebuild stronger, leaving no one behind,” stated Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmad Jama during the formal ceremony in Mogadishu.

“The R-PDNA represents a collaborative, coordinated effort involving the Somali Government, European Union, United Nations, and World Bank. The Somali Government, along with stakeholders, will carry on with detailed action plans addressing recovery needs, aiming to bolster community resilience against future floods. The EU will remain a steadfast ally in backing recovery and economic growth,” affirmed EU Ambassador Karin Johansson.

The assessment underscores mounting food insecurity, with an extra 304,980 people saddled with varying levels of food distress. The floods’ ripple effect has intensified the plight of 1.5 million children under five, projected to endure severe malnutrition. Beletweyn, Dolow, Baardhere, Baydhaba, and Kismayo are hit hardest, accounting for nearly 70% of losses and damages.

Poverty levels are expected to deepen, especially among the most susceptible groups, including nomadic tribes, rural folk, kids, and female-led households, given the compounded blows from the 2020-2023 drought.

Mr. George Conway, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, emphasized that the report will guide recovery efforts for all Somali stakeholders—”It’s crucial PDNA outcomes guide immediate crucial actions to combat the flood’s aftermath—rehabilitate livelihoods, housing, water, sanitation, and repair pivotal infrastructure like bridges. PDNA insights should be integrated into broader national plans, connecting short-term recovery needs with long-term goals and investment priorities.”

The report’s findings and advice are crafted to enlighten major stakeholders about the disaster’s requirements, galvanizing both national and global responses for prompt recovery.

“The World Bank’s flood response positions the government in command to steer and supervise emergency actions, including $80m from the Crisis Response Window (CRW) for Emergency Cash Transfers (ECT) to 215,000 households,” stated Kristina Svensson, World Bank Country Manager for Somalia. “We are also fortifying long-term disaster readiness by funding flood risk infrastructure, enhancing hydromet services, and emergency response capabilities, and aiding in diversified disaster risk financing.”

The report’s creation was bolstered by financial and technical help from the World Bank’s Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR). Financial and technical aid also came from the African, Caribbean, and Pacific (ACP)-EU partnership under the Strengthening Disaster Risk Governance and Recovery Capacities project steered by UNDP and the EU Foreign Policy Instrument, which supports tri-partite crisis assessment cooperation.