Cash Transfers Provision to Flood-Affected Households in Somalia

by | Jul 23, 2024

Abdia Barre Ali resides in Kaharey IDP Dollow District, Gedo region, Somalia, with her 11 grandchildren. Despite her age, Abdia actively seeks low-income work in Dollow town to support her large family. She became part of an impactful humanitarian initiative designed to aid vulnerable families affected by the El-Nino floods of 2023, which devastated regions across Somalia. The program provided unconditional cash assistance to 400 households in Dusey, Shilde, and Kaharey IDP. According to UN OCHA reports, over 1.7 million people were affected by the floods. The extreme rainfall triggered by El-Nino led to widespread riverine and flash floods in Somalia, causing loss of life, displacement of people, destruction of livelihoods, farmlands, water facilities, bridges, roads, schools, and health facilities.

In April 2024, she received a $95 mobile money transfer, the first of three installments. The subsequent payments of the same amount followed in May and June 2024. While this sum might appear modest to some, for Abdia and her family, it provided enough to afford food and other household necessities during this difficult time.

Mama Abdia shared how difficult it had been for her to get enough food for her grandchildren. She went on to add how the floods had impacted them, saying that her shelter had been flooded, they had nowhere to sleep, and they did not have clean water to drink. But through the money she received, Abdia shared how she has been able to provide food for her family with a sense of security and relief.

Cash Transfer transaction message on Abdia’s  phone

At Nomadic Assistance for Peace and Development (NAPAD), we view cash transfers as a way to provide social protection to families during times of crisis. By giving them direct access to funds, we enable them to meet their immediate basic needs. In addition, cash-based assistance is considered a safer and more efficient method of delivering rapid relief. Through electronic transfers, we can provide assistance remotely, eliminating the need for people to gather at distribution sites. This helps reduce risks such as insecurity, disease transmission and unnecessary travel.

Abdia Barre Ali, in front of her home

The impact of the cash transfers extends beyond Abdia’s household and resonates throughout the community. With cash assistance provided to all 400 households benefiting from the project, there is a ripple effect of increased resilience in the local markets where these families buy their supplies. The cash transfers also empowered Abdia and the other households to acquire what they urgently needed, such as food, safe shelter, basic hygiene products, essential health services (especially for children), and clean drinking water. Abdia emphasized that her top priority was providing food for her grandchildren, and with the money she received, she was able to do so effortlessly.

Nomadic Assistance for Peace and Development (NAPAD), in partnership with the Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), implemented this project to address the urgent humanitarian needs of vulnerable communities affected by the El-Nino floods in Kaharey, Shiidle, and Dusey villages in the Gedo region, Somalia. This initiative specifically aimed to support the most vulnerable populations in these areas by providing unconditional cash assistance, enabling them to meet their basic needs more effectively.