Introduction
The beginning of the El Niño phenomenon triggered devastating floods in Somalia, intensifying the already pressing humanitarian needs in a country already facing increased food insecurity, malnutrition, and disease outbreaks, especially Acute Watery Diseases (AWDs), Cholera, and Malaria. Widespread displacements and extensive damage to crops, farmlands, roads, homes, bridges, and critical infrastructure have been the aftermath of the severe flooding. This heavy rainfall followed drought conditions for more than five seasons, from which many households have yet to recover. The Somalia Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) estimates that a staggering 2.48 million people have been affected by the floods, with 1.2 million forced out of their homes and 118 reported lives lost.
Despite the gradual return of displaced households to their home, owing to the prevailing dry conditions in most parts of the country where the flood waters are receding, their needs remain high as they navigate the path of recovery from the severe flooding. The dual impact of drought and floods has created a complex humanitarian crisis, demanding comprehensive and sustained efforts to address the multifaceted challenges the affected population faces.
Lack of access to clean water due to the destruction of water Sources
In the Dollow district, the floods have caused significant destruction, leading to the lack of sanitation facilities. This has resulted in a notable increase in Acute Watery Diseases (AWD)/Cholera cases. A scarcity of clean water has further intensified the severity of the situation due to the contamination and destruction of water sources caused by the floods. In Kaharey, an internally displaced persons (IDP) camp within the Dollow district, people like Qumaan Nur Ali, a mother of five, are struggling with the harsh realities brought about by the flooding. She recounts the hardships, stating, “We had no place to sleep or cook as our tent was filled with water. It has been an incredibly challenging time for me and my children.”
Access to water within this IDP camp, housing over 4,000 households, has been complicated since the sole water source, a shallow well, was destroyed by the El Niño rains. Consequently, women and girls have spent nearly five hours in queues to fetch water. Sometimes, they have no choice but to bring contaminated water from the river. Mama Qumaan emphasizes the risks involved, noting, “The river also poses the threat of crocodiles while we fetch water.”
Emergency Water Trucking Through Water Vouchers
By implementing emergency water trucking through water vouchers in the Dollow district with funding from the Somalia Humanitarian Fund (SHF), Nomadic Assistance for Peace and Development (NAPAD) has provided access to clean water for at-risk and El Niño-affected Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) and host communities in Kurdubey and Kaharey IDP camps within the Dollow District for three months.
2940 people have been accessing clean water for the past two from the installed shaded water bladders, serving as reservoirs and filled by the water trucks. These bladders efficiently distribute water to the purpose-built water standpoint with six taps, providing the community with a reliable, safe, and easily accessible clean water source for drinking and other domestic needs.
Due to the water trucking intervention, Qumaan and her children have clean water daily for domestic use. They are also provided with aqua tabs to treat water at home to make it safe for consumption. This has significantly reduced diarrhoea and other water-related diseases, especially among children. “We are immensely thankful to NAPAD and SHF for providing clean water in our village. They’ve come to our help when we needed them most, especially after the floods disrupted our livelihoods. We request them to continue with the program until we get a sustainable source of clean water,’’ appealed the mother of five.
Looking Into the Future:
Emergency water trucking has provided much-needed short-term relief for residents like Mama Qumaan Nur and other flood-affected households. NAPAD foresees the urgent need to rehabilitate and reconstruct water sources, water supply systems, and other essential infrastructure destroyed by the floods to support affected households access sustainably water for domestic use and in rebuilding their livelihoods. NAPAD extends an invitation to partners urging collective efforts to provide relief to IDP camps and host communities impacted by the floods.