MOGADISHU — Nearly 7,000 water wells located along riverbanks across Somalia are at risk of being damaged or submerged by flooding during the upcoming October–December Deyr rainy season, Somalia’s Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Abdullahi Bidhan, has warned.
Bidhan said wells inundated by floodwaters or filled with silt could be difficult and costly to restore, potentially disrupting access to water for thousands of communities living in flood-prone areas.
“If these wells become submerged or silted up by the floods, restoring them to operation could prove difficult,” Bidhan said, warning of the consequences for communities that rely on the wells for their daily water needs.
The warning comes as Somalia prepares for potentially heavy rainfall and increased river flows associated with Super El Niño conditions expected to influence the coming Deyr season.
Risk of Both Flooding and Drought
Despite the flood threat, Bidhan cautioned that Somalia could simultaneously face drought in areas where the Deyr rains fail.
The concern is particularly significant after a poor Gu rainy season, which brought below-average rainfall to several parts of the country and left communities and water sources vulnerable.
The minister called for a coordinated national response involving the federal government, regional administrations, humanitarian organizations and local communities to prepare for both extremes.
“The federal government is now in place and is expected to demonstrate the difference effective governance can make, particularly in addressing the challenges facing the public,” Bidhan said.
He added that the effectiveness of the government should not be judged by the number of conferences or meetings held, but by their practical impact on people’s lives.
29 Districts Identified as High Risk
The Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) has separately warned of an elevated risk of flooding during the 2026 Deyr season, identifying 29 districts across 14 regions as particularly vulnerable to riverine and flash floods.
SoDMA urged residents in high-risk areas to begin preparations before heavy rains and rising water levels create dangerous conditions.
“The purpose of this warning is not to alarm the public, but rather to provide people with the opportunity to prepare in advance,” the agency said, stressing the need to reduce potential loss of life and property damage.
The agency said Somalia could experience two major forms of flooding.
Riverine flooding could affect communities along the Juba and Shabelle rivers, particularly when rainfall increases both inside Somalia and in Ethiopia’s highlands, where water flows eventually reach the Somali river systems.
Flash flooding, meanwhile, could result from intense rainfall over short periods, threatening cities, villages, roads, waterways and low-lying settlements.
Areas Facing Elevated Flood Risk
The districts identified in the warning include:
Doolow, Luuq, Baardheere, Bu’aale, Beledweyne, Buulo Burde, Jowhar, Mogadishu, Hargeisa, Garowe, Bosaso, Qardho, Baidoa, Galkayo, Kismayo, Afgooye, Buur-dhuubo, Jilib, Afmadow, Diinsoor, Qansaxdheere, Jamaame, Ceel-Barde, Sablaale, Kuntiwaarey, Marka, Baraawe, Dhusamareeb and Balcad.
The warnings underscore Somalia’s exposure to two competing climate risks.
Heavy Deyr rains could trigger flooding, displacement, infrastructure damage and contamination or destruction of vital water sources. At the same time, insufficient rainfall could worsen drought conditions in areas already affected by poor Gu rains.
Authorities are therefore urging communities and government agencies to identify vulnerable locations, protect critical water infrastructure and establish mechanisms for delivering assistance before emergencies escalate.
The coming Deyr season could become a major test of Somalia’s ability to coordinate disaster preparedness and respond quickly to both flooding and drought.
