A Tale of Extremes: From Prolonged Drought to Flash Floods in Ethiopia and Somalia

In March 2023, a severe drought that had been raging for nearly three years abruptly changed the landscapes of Ethiopia and Somalia. Heavy rains led to flash floods, claiming numerous lives and impacting over 300,000 individuals in the region.

The constant rainburst in the Ethiopian highlands caused the Shabelle and Juba rivers to breach their banks, washing away homes, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities in regions adjacent to these rivers in both southern Somalia and eastern Ethiopia. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) reported this devastation.

A striking satellite image depicts the flooding along the Shabelle River in Ethiopia's Somali region. The false-color image accentuates the water, making it distinct from the surrounding areas. A comparison with an image from March 11, 2023, reveals the stark transformation.

An astronaut aboard the International Space Station also captured the overflowing, sediment-laden waters of the Shabelle near the Ethiopia-Somalia border on April 1, 2023.

The Horn of Africa has been grappling with one of its most severe droughts. Since late 2020, five consecutive rainy seasons have failed, leading to the displacement of 1.4 million Somalis and the death of 3.8 million livestock. The Shabelle-Juba river basins recorded their driest period since 1981.

The recent Rainstorm has inundated over 1,000 hectares of farmland, posing challenges to the agricultural backbone of Ethiopia and Somalia, where 67% and 80% of the populace, respectively, rely on farming. The majority of farms, dependent on rain, lack the infrastructure to store excess water, and the sudden influx of water post-drought can erode topsoil and destroy crops.

Despite the unexpected heavy rains in March, climate projections remain grim, indicating that the long rains might be below average and the drought is likely to persist. The tragic events of flash floods following prolonged droughts in Ethiopia and Somalia have brought to the forefront the critical need for advanced monitoring and early warning systems. Amini Technologies, through its innovative satellite platform, is stepping up to this challenge.

Amini's capabilities extend from providing early warnings and precision monitoring of weather patterns to in-depth drought analysis and agricultural insights. Our high-resolution satellite imagery allows for timely alerts, historical data analysis, and post-disaster infrastructure assessment. By integrating seamlessly with other data sources, Amini's platform offers a comprehensive solution to mitigate the impacts of natural disasters.

In a world where climate extremes are becoming increasingly common, Amini's data infrastructure stands as a beacon of hope. Our platform is not just about data collection but also about empowering communities, governments, and organizations with actionable insights. In the face of adversity, Amini is contributing to a more resilient, prepared, and prosperous future for the regions most at risk.