CERF allocates US$ 24.7 million to rapidly respond to the unprecedented flooding in the Horn of Africa
Torrential rains over the Greater Horn of Africa since early October have caused severe flooding along the Juba and Shabelle rivers and their major tributaries in Ethiopia’s Somali Region and southern Somalia. Heavy rains have also led to severe flooding along the Tana River in eastern Kenya particularly around Wajir and Garissa.
As of 1 December 2006, it is estimated that 361,000 people, including 80 deaths, in Ethiopia’s Somali Region have been affected by the floods caused by torrential rains since early October 2006. In Somalia, the death toll rose to 116 after at least 20 people died in the north of the country after an outbreak of diarrhoea, and 330,000 are directly affected by the flooding. In Kenya, 21 people have already died and the number of affected is rising to 500,000.
The crisis in numbers
In Ethiopia, the flooding had affected an estimated that 361,000 people and caused at least 80 deaths as of 1 December. In Somalia, the death toll stands at 116 after at least 20 people died in the north of the country following an outbreak of diarrhoea. Another 330,000 Somalis are directly affected by the flooding. In Kenya, 21 people have already died and the number of affected is rising to 500,000.
Humanitarian impact
As a consequence of the flooding, access to food and clean water is either severely limited or not available in Kenya. Limited amounts of fuel and supplies at medical facilities in the affected areas pose a challenge, including in the prevention of the escalating risk of water-borne diseases. The most common diseases reported include malaria, pneumonia, diarrhoea, and malnutrition. The areas of Hiran, Middle Shabelle and Lower Shabelle in Somalia are the worst affected, with main roads being impassable, entire villages submerged, and thousands of hectares of farmland inundated. There is an increased fear of the worst case scenario including the combination of continued flooding with widespread armed conflict. Equally, access to populations have been severely hampered due to infrastructural damage in Gode zone in Ethiopia.
CERF in action
UNHCR, UNDP, WFP, WHO, UNICEF and FAO will implement life-saving interventions in the critical areas of humanitarian relief and logistics support, health, water- and sanitation, as well as livelihood support. The interventions particularly target the vulnerable, women and children, and the internally displaced as well as refugees in the Horn of Africa.
As of November 2006, CERF had committed a total of US$ 24.7 million to Kenya, US$ 9.9 million to Ethiopia, and US$ 16.6 million to Somalia for time-critical, life-saving interventions.
Last update: 27 November 2006
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