Flooding leaves 1.7 million people in urgent need

  • Severe flooding in Somalia's Hiraan, Bakool, Bay, and Gedo regions, caused by heavy Deyr rains, has claimed at least 41 lives and displaced over 649,000 individuals.
  • El Niño-induced rainfall is causing devastating floods, damaging infrastructure, and submerging farmlands, with above-normal rainfall expected until the end of 2023.
  • With the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan significantly underfunded at 39%, the IRC calls for immediate action and coordinated efforts to prevent further loss of lives, protect livelihoods and address climate injustice, particularly at COP28.
Read our November 20 press release.

Country facts

  • Total population: 12.3 million
  • People displaced by crisis: 17 of every 100

IRC response

  • Started work in Somalia: 1981
  • People assisted per year: 280,000

Rescue stories

Back home, we were friends. We both worked as farmers. We lived close to each other. Here, we make these baskets to sell in the market so we could get some cash for food.
Nunay and Bigisow sat in front of their tents, making baskets.
Families across Somalia have had their lives uprooted by a catastrophic hunger crisis that could soon be declared a famine.
Meet Nunay and Bisigow
Nunay, Bisigow and others
Somalia