The floods are affecting the south of the country worst of all, with the number of people urgently needing assistance continuing to rise in Hiran, Lower and Middle Shabelle, Lower and Middle Juba, and Gedo.

A recent dry spell has improved road conditions in some areas, making it easier to deliver relief supplies in those regions. However, weather forecasts indicate that more floods could hit the area until well into January. This bulletin analyses the situation and summarizes the response of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Situation

The floods that followed the unusually high rainfall in October and November have further damaged the limited infrastructure of the country, destroying farmland, disrupting food supplies and isolating entire villages. In many areas, people have fled up onto dykes, where they are completely surrounded by water and threatened by crocodiles. They have no shelter, water or food. People report climbing trees to escape wild animals.

The floods, which are also affecting Kenya and Ethiopia, followed a severe drought early in the year that resulted in acute food shortages and serious livestock losses. In many areas, the soil was so dry that it could not absorb the rainwater. Although the July harvest was fairly good, most crops have now been destroyed by the flooding. In addition, the floods may spread water-related diseases such as malaria, cholera and diarrhoea.

According to meteorologists, the rains since October have been more than three times their normal levels. The Shabelle and Juba Rivers on the border with Ethiopia burst their banks, flooding an area of up to 15 kilometres on either side. The floods have submerged entire villages along the rivers and displaced tens of thousands of people in the Hiran region alone.

Access

Access to the affected population is very difficult, as many roads and bridges are impassable or have been washed away. Delivering assistance by air or boat is often the only option. The ICRC has airlifted eight motorboats to the affected regions and hired four others locally. In Middle and Lower Shabelle, assistance is still provided by road. Two ICRC cargo planes are making daily flights between Nairobi and the flooded areas in Somalia.

ICRC emergency response

The ICRC is one of the very few organizations that can reach some of the most vulnerable people in isolated, flooded areas of Somalia. It is assisting the affected population in close partnership with the Somali Red Crescent Society (SRCS) and other components of the Red Cross / Red Crescent Movement such as the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

The following assistance has been delivered since 15 November 2006:

• 259,770 people received tarpaulins (one per family) in Hiran, Middle Shabelle, Middle and Lower Juba and Gedo
• 318,000 people received blankets (two per family) in Middle and Lower Shabelle and Lower Juba
• 45,000 people in Belet Weyne are receiving 100,000 litres of drinking water every day; 12 wells are being cleaned and disinfected
• 23 SRCS clinics received soap and 11,000 doses of oral rehydration salts
• 550 people in Lower Shabelle were rescued by boat and taken to higher ground in Sablaale and Kurtunwaarey, while SRCS mobile teams treated two people injured by crocodiles

The ICRC is monitoring the situation closely and is ready to step up its operations if necessary. This includes assisting flood victims by boat and possibly conducting evacuations.

While addressing the flood crisis, the ICRC continues to carry out the activities it has been undertaking since 1977, such as health programmes, agricultural projects and livelihood projects.

In addition, the organization has provided comprehensive relief assistance in the last two months to people displaced by the protracted conflict. In Lower Juba (Kismayo), Galgadud (Wabho), Bakool (Wajid), Gedo (Luuq), Bay regions and Galkayo, the ICRC has provided over 128,000 people with shelter materials, kitchen sets, mats, blankets and clothes.

In Mogadishu, 49,800 people affected by heavy rains in October have received shelter materials and blankets.

The ICRC is extremely concerned about the humanitarian situation in Somalia, as the floods are compounding what was already one of the worst humanitarian situations in the world after more than 15 years of internal armed conflict. The ICRC calls on all parties involved in armed clashes to spare and protect civilians, and to take all precautions when conducting military operations.

Quotes

"All our houses are surrounded by water. We can’t go back to get anything, not even food. The problem we ran away from is still with us. We have no pots to cook in, no food, not enough plastic sheets. We are all displaced. We don't have anything, but we are helping each other." Asha, a Somali woman who has fled to a camp for displaced persons near Belet Weyne.

"2006 has been catastrophic for the Somali people. After the worst drought in a decade, ravaging floods washed away the few belongings they had. Families are pushed to the limit as they try to survive under such extreme climatic conditions." Pascal Hundt, head of the ICRC delegation in Somalia.

"The humanitarian situation in Somalia is horrendous. When you fly over the region, all you can see is water and the tips of some roofs. In addition to the lack of food and shelter, the terrible smell of rotting debris makes it even more difficult to cope with the floods." Yves Degiacomi, ICRC water engineer.