29-04-2024 | di COOPI

Somalia. The NGOs consortium SomReP addresses the impact of above-normal rainfall

Somalia has been hit by anticipated above-normal rainfall which is impacting thousands of Somali livelihoods in Banadir, Galmaduug, Hirshabelle, Jubaland and South West states, and is likely to affect the operational areas of the Somali Resilience Program (SomReP), a consortium of 8 NGOs with deep experience in the country born to build the resilience of local communities. As a member of the SomReP consortium, COOPI is acting as a crucial supporter to the "El Niño Flood Early Warning Preparedness Campaign", running for the months of April and May 2024, aimed at mitigating the potential impacts of the increased rainfall.

Typically spanning from April to June, Somalia’s Gu season, the rainy season in Somalia, plays an important role in supporting agricultural activities and replenishing water and pasture. But as SomReP reported, this year seasonal rains started back in October 2023, putting at risk the lives of communities across most parts of Somalia.

According to the Seasonal Climate Forecast from IGAD’s Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), most areas across Somalia are at risk of experiencing wetter conditions than usual, with 55% likelihood of above-normal rainfall. Increased rains can not only cause the loss of valuable materials for community members, but also lead to buildings’ damages and health risks related to contaminated flood water.

Our work is valuable in a context where individuals in the local community are responsible for themselves, their families, and the wider part of society to which they belong, and where everyone keeps themselves informed with respect to the flood situation in their local area, as well as always vigilant.

Together with Action Against Hunger, ADRA, CARE, Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Oxfam, Shaqodoon and World Vision, COOPI is closely collaborating with the government on emergency response, including flood awareness messages dissemination to flood prone areas. In this way, the campaign aims at fostering coordination among local authorities, humanitarian organizations and community leaders in disaster preparedness and response efforts. You can discover more about the flood early warning messages on COOPI Youtube’s channel, where you can learn about the evacuation plans, the role of community members and of humanitarian organizations, and see how the SomReP consortium is maintaining vigilance and promptness to respond to the flood emergency.

Since 1981, COOPI has been conducting emergency and long-term resilience-building projects in Somalia in the areas of health, food security and livelihoods, water and sanitation to improve the livelihoods of thousands of vulnerable families. In particular, COOPI has been part of the SomReP consortium since 2012, with which it organizes and implements programs aimed at strengthening the resilience of local communities.