By - Reporter
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MOGADISHU, 21 October 2026 — Somalia has asked China, Egypt, Ukraine and Britain, among other governments, for support to prepare for floods that its disaster agency says could affect about 3.5 million people, the head of the agency said on Wednesday.
Mahamud Moalim Abdulle, chairman of the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), said he expected up to 1.2 million people could be displaced. He said the floods could hit about 30 districts across the country, including the Banadir region that contains the capital Mogadishu.
Abdulle said Somalia was looking to China for strong support, thanking Beijing for its help during the recent drought. He said Somalia was also asking Ukraine for bilateral support and expected a reply from Egypt in the coming days.
He said the agency had also shared its assessment with other governments, which would respond through aid agencies, and that Britain and Denmark were among those expected to respond.
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Flash floods have already hit several towns, including Abudwaq and Galkayo, he said, but he expected flooding along the country’s rivers to cause the most damage.
Abdulle said he feared large numbers of livestock could die because animals were weakened by five years of severe drought. He said people and livestock alike could be forced to flee.
SoDMA sent a notice to aid agencies about a week earlier asking them to prepare and pre-position supplies, he said, so that help would be available before people are forced from their homes.
Abdulle called on all Somalis, including business people and religious scholars, to contribute to the response.