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MOGADISHU — The Banadir Regional Administration (BRA) has commenced the implementation of an urgent emergency plan to enhance climate response capacity in the capital, Mogadishu. This move comes in response to the challenges imposed by recent rainfall on the city’s infrastructure, as the administration seeks to improve drainage facility efficiency and ensure the continuity of urban mobility.
This development follows an extensive coordination meeting chaired by the Governor of Banadir and Mayor of Mogadishu, Hassan Mohamed Hussein ‘Mungab’, in the presence of members of the rainy season emergency committee and representatives of national construction companies, to discuss ways to consolidate efforts to mitigate potential risks.
The new strategy focuses on intensifying field operations to clear rainwater drainage networks of obstacles and debris, while immediately reinforcing vital main roads that may be affected by water accumulation. It also aims to strengthen communication channels between government agencies and the private sector to ensure rapid response to emergency reports.
These measures follow the heavy rainfall witnessed by the capital last Monday. Although no significant material or human losses were recorded, the rainfall revealed the urgent need to improve water drainage infrastructure to be more resilient and capable of absorbing large volumes of water.
The administration based its formulation of these measures on precise technical reports prepared by a team of engineers, as assessments warned that the weakness of the drainage network in some neighborhoods requires immediate engineering interventions, especially in light of the urban expansion that puts pressure on existing facilities.
The administration also utilized forecasts issued by the IGAD Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), which indicate continued weather volatility and expectations of above-average seasonal rainfall in parts of southern Somalia over the coming days, necessitating heightened alert levels for all field teams.
Low-lying neighborhoods in Mogadishu historically face severe difficulties during rainy seasons, as water accumulation disrupts movement and hinders commercial activity. The new preventive measures aim to address this fundamentally by enhancing the existing systems’ capacity to handle high water flows.
Concluding the meeting, the Governor directed the activation of 24-hour field operational mechanisms. He emphasized that protecting public and private property and ensuring the safety of residents are top priorities, calling on all relevant parties to maintain maximum vigilance and joint coordination to ensure the plan’s success.
This move reflects a growing awareness by the Banadir administration of the importance of “proactivity” in managing climate crises. Transitioning from reacting to floods to the preventive fortification of infrastructure represents an essential step toward building a more resilient city, laying the foundation for an urban future capable of facing accelerating climate changes effectively and competently.
