Somalia faces an increased risk of severe flooding as El Niño conditions are expected to bring above-normal rainfall. According to IOM and DRC’s joint projections, more than 800,000 people are at risk of displacement by flooding between October 2026 and January 2027, with an impact on their lives, homes, livelihoods and access to essential services.
IOM is working with the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), local authorities and communities to strengthen flood preparedness and early response. Efforts include flood risk assessments, early warning messages, community awareness, evacuation planning, disaster risk reduction training and pre-positioning emergency supplies.
With communities already affected by drought and displacement, urgent support is needed to scale up preparedness, protect vulnerable families and ensure people can move to safety before flooding strikes. Early action is critical to saving lives, protecting livelihoods and reducing the humanitarian impact of El Niño in Somalia.
Assessment of IDP site-level risks and household level readiness ahead of the anticipated 2026 EL NINO
https://somalia.iom.int/el-nino-2026-somalia-preparedness-and-early-action
