East and Horn of Africa: Flood Snapshot (July - November 2023)

The current El Niño conditions and the positive Indian Ocean Dipole have brought increased rains in most parts of the East and Horn of Africa, causing riverine and flash floods. The most affected countries have been Somalia (1.7 M), Ethiopia (763 K) and Kenya (475 K), with almost 3 million people affected and over 1.5 million displaced in those countries. Torrential rains also affected critical infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, water sources, and health facilities. This is seriously straining the operational capacity of humanitarian actors to support those most in need. Although the above-average rainfall may help pastoralist communities recover from the 2020–2023 drought, there are also risks of pasture and livestock disease outbreaks that may trigger food insecurity and waterborne diseases. According to the World Meteorological Organization, El Niño conditions are forecast to continue through at least April 2024, while the positive Indian Ocean Dipole is expected to last until February 2024.