Bardhere, a town in Somalia's Gedo region, has been plagued by a recurring problem caused by the Jubba River: flooding and drought when the rainy season is over. This fate befalls not only Bardhere, but the entire Gedo region. Only last week,more than 16 people were killed by floods on a small bridge in town after the Jubba River flashed them while crossing. Three days later, while people were sleeping, flash floods swept away the majority of the town.
This second tragedy has resulted in approximately 15 confirmed deaths and the displacement of tens of thousands of families. This phenomenon, in which people are either experiencing extreme drought or flooding, is very common in the Gedo region. Dolow was the one who suffered the same fate in 2019 where the whole town was swept by the Dawa river.
Bardhere is situated on the banks of the Jubba River, which runs through the town and provides a vital source of water for the residents. However, the same river has caused devastating floods that have destroyed homes, farms, and infrastructure.
Floods have been caused by heavy rainfall, which is frequently accompanied by strong winds that sweep away homes and buildings. The most serious threat is that the Jubba River originates in the Ethiopian highlands, making water levels unpredictable. The floods have affected not only Bardhere, but the entire Gedo region, which is heavily reliant on agriculture for a living.
More than 16 people were killed when the jubba river flashed pedesterians crossing small bridge in Bardhere town.
More than 15 people were confirmed dead when flash floods swept homes while people were sleeping. These was mainly the Jubba river over flooding.
More than 10,000 families were displaced due to huge flooding in the town.
Several actors have targeted Somalia's Gedo region, including the militant group Al-Shabaab, the Jubbaland administration, Kenya, and the Federal Government of Somalia. This has resulted in significant challenges for the people of Gedo, such as drought, floods, and inadequate infrastructure.The presence of Al-Shabaab has contributed to the region's insecurity, causing community displacement and economic disruption. Because of this insecurity, aid organizations have found it difficult to provide much-needed assistance during times of drought and flooding.
The conflict between the Jubbaland administration and the Gedo community has also harmed Gedo. The conflict has resulted in a lack of coordinated efforts to address issues such as drought and flooding, which has exacerbated the region's suffering. The federal government of Somalia showed little or no concern for the people of Gedo. Miraa's deals with Kenya determine whether there will the Kenyan border will open or close, the only time the federal government interacts with the region. The government never consulted with the community when resolving issues with Jubbaland authorities.
As a result, there has been insecurity, poor infrastructure, with little investment in roads, hospitals, and other essential services and a lack of coordinated efforts to address issues like drought and flooding. To address these challenges and improve the lives of the people of Gedo, immediate action is required. These action is expected mainly from the federal government of Somalia to take a lead role in this disaster and finding a lasting solution for the recurring tragedies in the region.
Bardhere requires both short-term and long-term solutions. The short-term solution is to mobilize all available resources to assist those displaced by the recent floods. The federal government is expected to provide the majority of the solutions to coordinate the crisis. It is well known that jubbaland and Gedo have a strained relationship. The federal government should not sit back and wait for Kismayo to act. Many people have been displaced and have lost their homes and businesses. To coordinate the situation, the international community should work directly with the authorities in Bardhere. All efforts should be made by the Somali community and diaspora to alleviate the crisis.
The most important long-term solution is to resolve the region's political crisis. This is expected from the Gedo community, Jubbaland, the federal government, and Kenya, which is a stakeholder in Jubbaland politics. If the crisis is overcome and all efforts are directed toward clearing alshabab from the region, the region has great potential.
Other solutions are named below:
Climate change mitigation
The government should prioritize climate change mitigation efforts, such as promoting sustainable agriculture and investing in renewable energy.
Disaster relief funding
The federal government should provide adequate funding for disaster relief to help those affected by floods.
Water harversting , Building levees and drainage systems
The region is in great need of water harvesting projects to mitigate drought. The community should invest in building levees and drainage systems along the banks of the Jubba River to prevent flooding.
Early warning systems:
The community should invest in early warning systems to alert people in Bardhere and the Gedo region of impending floods.
The recurring problem of flooding in Bardhere and the Gedo region is a result of negligence by regional and federal governments. The floods have caused untold suffering for the people living there, and urgent action is needed to prevent further damage. The solutions proposed, such as finding political solution to create envirenment for investment, building levees and drainage systems, disaster relief funding, climate change mitigation, and early warning systems, can help prevent flooding and improve the lives of those affected. It is time for the regional and federal governments to take action to protect the people of Bardhere and the Gedo region.