The National Disaster Management Agency (SODMA) held a one-day meeting with international organizations and non-governmental agencies working in the country on Saturday, October 21, 2023, to discuss the potential impact of the El Niño phenomenon on Somalia.
The meeting, chaired by the Deputy Director of SODMA, Dr. Ahmed Abdi Adan, aimed at coordinating the response to the El Niño situation, which is causing more rains than usual during the rainy season and raising fears that it could cause floods and displacement of people.
Dr. Adan said that SODMA was monitoring the weather patterns and preparing contingency plans to mitigate the risks of flooding and provide humanitarian assistance to the people affected by the floods.
He also said that SODMA was working closely with international and local partners to mobilize resources and enhance the capacity of local authorities and communities to cope with the possible emergency.
He urged the public to follow the advice and warnings issued by SODMA and other relevant agencies and to take precautionary measures to protect themselves and their properties from the floods.
He also appealed to the media and civil society to raise awareness and educate the public about the El Niño phenomenon and its consequences.
Somalia is one of the countries that are vulnerable to the effects of El Niño, as it faces recurrent droughts and floods that affect its food security, livelihoods, health, and stability.
