SoDMA and UN Push for Early Action to Mitigate Flood Risks in Somalia

MOGADISHU — The Commissioner of the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), Mohamud Moallim Abdulle, accompanied by the South West State Minister for Humanitarian Affairs, Abdinasir Abdi Arush, held a meeting with George Conway, the United Nations Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, to discuss strengthening coordination on flood preparedness and anticipatory action.

The meeting focused on the importance of collaboration between SoDMA, humanitarian agencies, the Federal Government and Federal Member States to protect vulnerable communities and reduce the impact of flooding. Officials emphasized the need to take early action and implement anticipatory measures before floods occur, rather than responding only after communities are already in crisis.

Commissioner Abdulle underscored that joint action could reduce foreseeable risks and that faster coordination was essential. The meeting follows previous high-level discussions between SoDMA and Conway on drought response and Super El Niño preparedness, including a joint assessment mission to regions including Somaliland, North Eastern State, and Puntland.

Anticipatory Action and Early Warning Systems

The discussions reflect a broader shift in Somalia’s disaster management strategy from reactive crisis response toward anticipatory action, an approach intended to reduce humanitarian consequences by acting on early warning information before hazards strike.

Somalia has adopted a new Anticipatory Action Strategy, shaped through extensive consultations with communities, technical experts, and international partners, which aims to strengthen early warning systems and enable faster, more targeted responses to natural and man-made crises. The strategy represents a shift from reactive aid delivery to proactive planning that anticipates disasters before they strike.

Somalia has also launched the Multi-Hazard Early Warning System under the global Early Warnings for All framework, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme and the Green Climate Fund. The initiative aims to reduce disaster-related deaths by 42 percent by 2030 and extend early warning coverage from 20 percent to complete national coverage, directly benefiting 1.2 million people.

SoDMA has been holding a series of consultations with health partners and other stakeholders to accelerate preparedness for the Super El Niño, as the agency seeks to strengthen coordination to mitigate the risks of severe flooding, displacement, and disruption to agriculture and food security. The Cabinet has endorsed a national El Niño preparedness plan, and Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has visited SoDMA headquarters to review preparedness measures.

SoDMA has also coordinated with the Somali Air Force, with both sides agreeing that the Armed Forces should play an important role in emergency response and rescue efforts, including the delivery of relief assistance, information gathering, and ground assessments using helicopters and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Coordination Framework and Partnerships

The meeting also emphasized the need for closer coordination among disaster authorities, federal member states, and humanitarian organizations so that action can begin when risks are identified rather than waiting until communities are already in crisis. Officials called for faster coordination and stronger information sharing across national and regional authorities.

SoDMA has also signed agreements with international partners, including a Memorandum of Understanding with Qatar Red Crescent, to provide vital support to regions impacted by El Niño-induced flooding, focusing on immediate relief, improving water reservoirs, and strengthening healthcare services.

The agency has also launched the World Bank-supported Catastrophe Deferred Drawdown Option (Cat DDO) project, a key step toward strengthening the nation’s ability to respond to natural and climate-induced disasters. The initiative comes at a time when international humanitarian assistance is declining, underscoring the need for Somalia to build stronger, self-sustaining systems of resilience.

The gathering reflects a wider effort by Somalia and its humanitarian partners to strengthen disaster preparedness as the country faces overlapping pressures from climate shocks, displacement, and food insecurity.

Critical Note

The meeting between SoDMA and UN officials reflects a continued commitment to strengthening disaster preparedness and coordination in Somalia. The focus on anticipatory action, taking measures before floods strike, is a recognition that reactive responses have repeatedly proven inadequate and costly in both human and financial terms.

However, the gap between planning and implementation remains a persistent concern. Somalia’s disaster management system has made progress in recent years, including the adoption of the Anticipatory Action Strategy, the launch of the Multi-Hazard Early Warning System, and the development of a national El Niño preparedness plan. These initiatives remain underfunded and face significant institutional and logistical challenges. The forecasted Super El Niño threatens to compound an already fragile humanitarian situation, and the resources available are far short of what is needed.

The effectiveness of anticipatory action ultimately depends on whether early warnings translate into timely assistance for vulnerable communities. This requires not only coordination among agencies but also sustained investment in early warning systems, prepositioned supplies, and community-level preparedness. Without these, the cycle of crisis and response will continue, with the most vulnerable Somalis bearing the heaviest burden.