Doolow, Gedo region, Somalia: Daily heavy rains in parts of Somalia have resulted in severe flooding. The rains are mostly intense in southern Somalia. In Doolow district, in the Gedo region for example, heavy rains both in Somalia and Ethiopia have caused water levels in two rivers: Juba and Dawa to rise, causing massive over flooding on land. People’s homes are inundated, farmlands submerged and crops destroyed.

After a brutal and historic drought in 2022, Somalia now braces for the El Niño rains. On Thursday of last week, Baidoa, the capital city of South West State, south central Somalia was the epicentre of heavy rains that lasted at least 12 hours. The rains that started the evening of Wednesday continued through the night into Thursday morning, causing flash floods in the aftermath, with significant damage to infrastructure.

Isaack, a 12-year-old boy, lives in a settlement camp, located in Baidoa, south central of Somalia, with his mother. They fled here to escape the adverse effects of drought and conflict, ravaging parts of the country. Isaack spends the majority of his days at a nearby Child Friendly Space (CFS) centre. This centre provides him with various educational and recreational activities, such as arts, reading, numeracy, and interactive play with other children. He has made quite a number of friends here.

At least 6.5 million people across Somalia will face extreme hunger and malnutrition beginning April to June, due to the impacts of: five consecutive seasons of poor rains, a possible sixth season of below average to poor rains, high food prices plus persistent insecurity.

Fighting the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) requires a coming together of efforts. In Somaliland, a few individuals have given of their time and effort to advocate against the harmful practice, strongly convicted that it holds no place in society. But, their advocacy efforts alone will not be enough to defeat this old and deeply-rooted practice among the Somali community, they argue. Concerted efforts from all key duty bearers is critical including legal enforcement. 

Somalia is facing its worst drought in 40 years following a record fifth failed rainfall season, continued rise in food prices and conflict, which has left more than 7 million people- more than half of the country’s suffering from widespread hunger with a worrying number living on the verge of starvation. A famine could occur in parts of the country, where some 300,000 people are reported to be already living in famine-like conditions.

In southern Somalia, across Baidoa and Dollow a combination of drought and high food prices are creating a perfect storm. As of 30 June, the severe drought has affected more than 7 million people, an increase from 6.1 million in May, with over 800,000 people internally displaced. The majority have moved from drought-stricken rural areas to urban places and are living in makeshift settlements for the displaced, to seek assistance. The scale of need is far outstripping the current assistance being provided, driven by daily new arrivals into makeshift settlements for displaced families. 

Follow our National Director Simon Nyabwengi to the Jubba River, one of the two permanent rivers in southern Somalia. In normal times, it is a huge, roaring water body that can only be crossed using traditional canoes. But with severe drought, it has shrunk to an eighth of its size, gradually becoming invisible.

But even having shrunk, it is still sustaining life on its banks and beyond. What makes this possible?

World Vision, together with fellow non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the Somali NGO Consortium, is deeply concerned for the lives of millions of Somalis facing a severe food crisis and are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.

More than 7.7 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, and current Somalia humanitarian appeal is underfunded by a staggering 98%.