Millions in Somalia Face Famine and Massive Floods Due to El Niño

Millions of people in Somalia are at risk of a climate disaster as experts predict an unprecedented El Niño phenomenon between October and December 2026. In the village of Bayahaaw, near the city of Jowhar, farmers face a difficult decision: plant crops and risk losing them to floods, or leave their fields barren and suffer from hunger next year. Nuh Adan, a farmer and community leader, fears the impact of floods on local agriculture will be felt for months. 'If the river overflows, causing floods, we will feel the effects until the next rainy season in March,' he explains. The International Committee of the Red Cross is preparing for the worst, distributing sandbags, pre-positioning essential items, and providing medical supplies and food to healthcare structures. Volunteers from the Somali Red Crescent have received training on navigation to intervene in emergency situations caused by floods. The Red Cross is better prepared and has better data than in 2023, but funding for aid and humanitarian capacities has significantly decreased.