Somalia faces displacement of 874,000 people due to flooding

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the Danish Refugee Council warn that approximately 874,319 people in Somalia could be displaced between October and December 2026. Flooding, driven by heavy rainfall and the El Nino phenomenon, is expected to account for 92 percent of this projected displacement.

Manuel Marques Pereira, the IOM’s Somalia chief of mission, noted that many affected families have already experienced previous displacements and have few resources remaining. High-risk areas include Beletweyne and Gaalkacyo, with nearly 229,000 and 82,000 people at risk in those regions respectively.

The IOM reports a significant funding gap, having secured only 14.4 percent of the $16.62 million required to prepare for and respond to the crisis. Urgent international support is needed to strengthen early warning systems, establish evacuation routes, and provide emergency shelter, clean water, and sanitation services.