Baardheere is one of the districts that experienced the worst impact of the El Niño floods caused by the Jubba river, which flooded and submerged large areas of land. The floods damaged roads, bridges, swamping farmland, and thereby restricting access to towns and settlements. More than 11 people lost their lives and over 42,236 people fled their homes and formed IDP camps after their homes, properties, crops and livestock were completely destroyed by the flash floods. As a result of a flood shock, casual agricultural labour opportunities decline, agricultural yields decreased and livestock conditions deteriorated reducing income for farmers.

Additionally, inflation started to skyrocket immediately after the floods given the reduction of community purchasing power due to loss of income and assets thus increasing the cost of living. These combined factors deteriorated the living condition of the affected communities living in Bardheere district, Gedo region of Somalia.

CPD’s Response Actions.

To mitigate the adverse effects of anticipated floods and to empower communities to safeguard against flood risks in Baardhere district, CPD with funding from the Start Fund and ActionAid International Somalia (ActionAid) is currently providing unconditional cash transfer (UCT) to 407 vulnerable flood affected households which includes low-income HHs, female headed households with large family size, vulnerable households member with disability, illness, older person, chronic disease, households who have no bread winners and depend entirely on external support/assistance (i.e. orphans, children), households with malnourished children under-five years and/or pregnant and lactating (PLW) or HIV/TB members enrolled in nutrition programme and lacking income or social support and minority and marginalised communities living in bardheere district.

Through the Start Fund and ActionAid funding, CPD is also disseminating Early Warning Voice Messages through radio broadcasting to enhance community awareness on the potential risk of floods to prepare them for early evacuation to avoid loss of lives, livelihoods, and to minimise the impact of the floods on assets. Through this, the community will be able to know when the floods are expected to reach, where the evacuation sites are, and to whom they need to coordinate with for evacuation.

CPD is also supporting Bardheere local administration through capacity building training to enhance the early warning system, risk management, preparedness and also in strengthening coordination efforts with the other agencies to avoid duplication and harmonise the resources in the district.

Through the Start Fund and ActionAid funding, CPD is also implementing WASH activities in Bardheere district to promote Good WASH practice through awareness raising to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with anticipated floods and to enhance community awareness raising for good hygiene practices through hygiene promoters while educating the community on households water treatment (HHWT) practices.