Summary Report

SAACID responded to severe flooding in and around the Maandhere Village of Jowhar District, Middle Shabelle Region in May of 2004

In May 2004, the Shabelle River burst its banks in the Jowhar District area, and the resulting flooding inundated Maandhere Village, causing widespread destruction. This was following a fire that destroyed large parts of the village in March 2004 (see photo set). SAACID implemented needs assessments for both the fire in March 2004 and the flood in May 2004. SAACID was completely unsuccessful in securing any emergency relief funding for the village in March after a fire (started by children playing with fire on a windy day) destroyed more than 60% of the village. The fire wiped out much of the food that was stored for both sowing the next crop and for food security.

SAACID provided a Rapid Assessment Matrix of the situation to prospective donors. SAACID was successful with the proposals it submitted to NOVIB (the Dutch OXFAM partner) and the World Food Programme (WFP) for the flood disaster. Some 696 families (average extended family size exceeded 7) were directly effected by the flooding.

The ICRC and UNICEF also responded to the disaster by supplying plastic sheeting (to be used as temporary shelter), sand bagging (to repair the 2 main breaches in the river) and supported the local communities in the area in the rehabilitation of the breaches. Also, leaders in adjoining villages mobilised their communities and provided labour to help rebuild some of the housing structures of Maandhere.

WFP provided 3-months Food-For-Work (FFW – food is received in exchange for labour) to rehabilitate 12 irrigation canals that were badly silted through the flooding process. The region is primarily agricultural; this rehabilitation process allowed the communities in the area to effectively replant crops and provide sustainable food security and income (though some cash cropping) to maintain the communities affected.

NOVIB responded to the flood disaster in Maandhere by providing cash to purchase emergency relief kits for the 696 families. The kits included such things as blankets, plastic containers and cups to store fresh water, hoes and machetes (to clear the area and till the soil for a fresh agricultural planting), mosquito netting (Maandhere is a malaria endemic area), pots (for cooking) plastic sheeting, etc (see photo set above).

NOVIB has a strong history for supporting emergency interventions in Somalia and needs to be commended for its efforts over a long period of time.

Outcomes were strong, with all breaches of the river being sealed; and, key canal systems being de-silted.