IOM: Nearly 874,000 people may be displaced in Somalia in the next three months

A report released by IOM has stated that a forecast made with the Danish Refugee Council indicates that 874,319 people may be displaced between October and December, with floods potentially causing 92 percent of the predicted displacement.

“We are facing the possibility that hundreds of thousands of people may lose their homes for weeks,” said Manuel Marques Pereira, head of the IOM operation in Somalia.

This warning comes as Somalia enters the rainy season, which is predicted to bring above-average rainfall, as climate conditions related to El Niño continue to intensify.

IOM has reported that it has received only 14.4 percent of the total $16.62 million needed to prepare for floods and respond to their impacts. This funding is intended to assist more than 517,000 people.

The cities of Beledweyne and Gaalkacyo are among the areas most vulnerable to displacement caused by floods. According to the agency's forecast, nearly 229,000 people living in Beledweyne and 82,000 people living in Gaalkacyo are at risk of being displaced from their homes.

The agency has stated that rising river levels and heavy rains are already posing a threat to various communities, as floods can destroy agricultural crops, contaminate water sources, and disrupt access to health services.

Floods may also exacerbate the humanitarian situation for people already struggling with drought, displacement, and economic hardships.

IOM has called on the international community to urgently provide additional funding to strengthen early warning systems, prepare evacuation routes, and deliver temporary shelter, clean water, and sanitation services to those affected by disasters.

The agency warned that a lack of funding could hinder efforts to prepare for floods, as thousands of families face the risk of losing their homes and the resources they rely on for their livelihoods.