The Horn of Africa faces a severe climate emergency, with over two million people displaced by relentless torrential rains and floods. This dire situation, reported by AFP from government and UN sources, adds to the nearly 300 lives lost in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia.
This extreme weather, tied to the El Niño phenomenon, strikes as the region recovers from its most severe drought in forty years, a period marked by widespread hunger.
Action Against Hunger described the current conditions as critical, noting the compounded challenges of drought recovery and flooding. The Horn of Africa, despite its minimal global carbon emissions, remains highly vulnerable to the escalating severity and frequency of climate change effects.
Somalia, particularly hard hit, is battling not only these climate disasters but also a persistent Islamist insurgency. Over 100 people have died and more than a million displaced, as detailed by the United Nations and Somali officials. Mogadishu has declared a state of emergency in response to what the UN terms “once in a century” flooding, raising alarms about potential disease outbreaks.
This flooding crisis has submerged homes, farmlands, and isolated communities, leaving a trail of destruction. An estimated 1.5 million children under five are at risk of acute malnutrition, according to the joint UN-Somali report.
UN envoy George Conway underscored the devastating impact of repeated climate shocks and widespread insecurity on Somalia’s population. December could see over 1.5 million hectares of farmland inundated.
In a significant relief effort, Somalia received 25,000 tonnes of grain from Russia, with more aid expected. The World Food Programme, however, warns that 4.3 million Somalis might face crisis-level hunger by year’s end.
Kenya’s interior ministry reports a death toll of 136, with over 460,000 people displaced. In Ethiopia, 57 deaths and more than 600,000 displacements have been recorded by OCHA. Cholera outbreaks in the Somali region of Ethiopia have claimed 23 lives, with 772 confirmed cases, as reported by Save the Children. The organization warns of the potential for these outbreaks to spiral out of control.
This unfolding humanitarian disaster in the Horn of Africa underscores the urgent need for comprehensive climate action and support for the affected communities.
