Somali Observatory for Humanitarian Affairs It is a specialized, independent, non-profit media network that observes and follows up the Somali humanitarian scene
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In the aftermath of heavy rains that swept across the Nugal region in northeastern Somalia, hundreds of farming and pastoralist families in Puntland have suffered devastating losses amid a near-total absence of government or international aid. The flash floods, which struck the outskirts of Garowe – the state capital – on June 13, 2025, destroyed homes, farms, and livestock, forcing many families to seek shelter under trees, without food or shelter.
According to a detailed report by The New Arab, more than 800 families – including farmers, pastoralists, and internally displaced persons – now face worsening humanitarian conditions after losing all their belongings.
“I lost 30 livestock and crops planted across three hectares,” said farmer Farah Abdi Shire. “The floods hit us without warning and swept everything away. Now we survive on one shared meal a day provided by equally struggling neighbors.”
The destruction also extended to displacement camps near Garowe, where makeshift shelters were washed away and stored food supplies were ruined.
Ayuto Ali Folie, a widowed mother of seven, said her family lost even basic cooking utensils: “We have no shelter, no food, and my children have stopped going to school – it was closed due to flood damage.”
Initial assessments by Puntland’s Ministry of Humanitarian and Disaster Management indicate that more than 5,000 displaced families and 300 families of farmers and herders were directly impacted.
“The damage exceeds the local government’s capacity,” said Abdulhakim Biri Nuh, the regional coordinator.“We’ve submitted urgent reports to humanitarian organizations and are now awaiting concrete action. The greatest burden falls on camp residents.”
As The New Arab highlights, this disaster is part of a broader environmental and humanitarian crisis gripping Puntland due to extreme climate volatility – alternating between severe droughts and destructive floods – which has significantly increased poverty and internal displacement.
According to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), over 1.5 million people in Puntland were affected by drought by the end of 2023, while more than 200,000 were displaced due to water and pasture shortages.
Furthermore, The New Arab cites data from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development’s Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), which reports that Somalia, including Puntland, is experiencing its heaviest rainy season in over two decades. The floods have damaged infrastructure, closed over 100 schools, and disrupted the education of thousands of children.
Amid this crisis, local authorities have issued an urgent appeal to international humanitarian agencies and aid partners to provide food, shelter, healthcare, and infrastructure rehabilitation. They warn that any delay in intervention could push the region into a long-term humanitarian catastrophe.
