El Niño floods pose a significant
burden to Somali People
Somalia
like other many countries across the globe, climatic conditions have been a burden in the last decade. The recent years, Somalia has been struggling
with environmental hardships that induced unprecedented weather conditions
across the country. Alongside, the country’s poor economy and low standard of
living, these climate-driven challenges led to severe conditions in rural areas
and some urban cities. For the last ten years, Somali people have been
experiencing climate-caused obstacles including recurrent droughts and floods.
The devastating droughts were normal in the five to six years in the country
and in some regions, there was normalized climate change within two years:
one-year drought and one flood.
The
rainy season in the country typically spans from April to December. In 2023,
the initial rainy season was unsuccessful, leading to a humanitarian crisis. As
the subsequent rainy season approaches, a new climate-related challenge has
emerged, necessitating urgent humanitarian intervention. The Deyr season
(October- December) is important to the Somali people as it accounts for approximately
205 to 30% of the annual rainfall of the country. Though it is short and has
less precipitate, it is the most dependent rainy season of the four seasons.[1]
At
the beginning of this season, there was good hope for the season, but
everything went in the opposite direction at the first drop of this season. In
early November, forecast data indicated that significant floods were expected
to affect much of the country, predominantly moving eastward across the region.
The anticipated El Niño, along with a forecasted positive Indian Ocean Dipole
(IOD), is expected to cause rainfall levels above the average, with a certainty
of over 90%. This situation emphasizes the need for mitigation, preparedness,
and proactive measures.[2] This article highlights
the most affected by the El Niño Floods.
Agricultural
production is the backbone of Somalia's economy since a large portion of the
population relies on farming and livestock for their livelihoods. El
Niño-induced floods have a dire impact on this sector. The floods lead to the
destruction of arable land, washing away nutrient-rich topsoil and leaving
fields submerged under water for extended periods. This results in significant
crop failures of the season, reducing the food supply and increasing the risk
of food insecurity and famine.
infrastructure
is most significantly devastated by the El Niño floods. Roads and bridges were
destroyed and populated towns were submerged during the precipitating heavy
downpours. This disrupts transportation and trade, isolating communities and
hindering access to markets, health care, and other essential services. The
economic impact is profound, with the cost of repairing and rebuilding
infrastructure placing a substantial burden on an already strained government
budget and slowing economic growth.
https://c.files.bbci.co.uk/vivo/live/images/2019/11/5/71e1b3e7-504c-4199-8e67-69b41d042cce.jpg
El
Niño floods added fuel to the weak health conditions in Rural areas by
increasing the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera and malaria, as
standing water becomes a breeding ground for disease vectors. In a country
where healthcare infrastructure is limited and many regions lack access to
clean water and sanitation facilities, the health implications are severe. This
leads to a surge in morbidity and mortality, further exacerbated by the
difficulty in delivering medical aid and supplies to flood-affected areas.
Additionally,
the floods often force people to leave their homes and seek shelter in
makeshift camps. These camps are typically overcrowded, lack adequate
sanitation, and are prone to the outbreak of diseases, thereby compounding the
humanitarian crisis.
Other
than these catastrophes, floods have a lasting impact on the environment
El
Niño floods also have a lasting impact on Somalia's environment. The alteration
of natural water courses, soil erosion, and the deposition of sediments lead to
environmental degradation, affecting biodiversity and the ecological balance.
Changes in the landscape can have long-term effects on the local climate, water
availability, and the natural habitat of various species. El Niño floods
present a multifaceted challenge to the Somali people, impacting their
agriculture, infrastructure, economy, health, and environment.
Ali
Hussein Ahmed
