In Somalia, Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) needs remain severe due to compounded shocks such as recurrent drought, floods and conflicts. Nearly 7 million people need lifesaving WASH assistance in 2024. The Deyr floods in 2023 affected over 2.4M people across the country and damaged or contaminated hundreds of water points across the flood-affected states, destroyed or inundated several thousands of latrines, forcing a significant portion of the population to rely on unsafe water sources or practice open defecation.

In addition, most of the drinking water supplies especially dug wells were inundated, forcing people to walk several kilometres to fetch water from unreliable sources that exposed a large number of them to the risk of waterborne diseases such as Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD). As of June 2024, over 10,000 cases have been reported with 120 deaths according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Acted with the support of USAID, provides Integrated Emergency and Early Recovery Support for Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Communities Affected by Drought, Flood, and Conflict in Somalia, from May 2023 and April 2025, to improve the living conditions of 64,328 households (385,965 individuals) of displaced and host communities who face a chronic lack of safe drinking water, food and sanitation.

Acted improves access to sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene for the affected families who live in IDPs sites with its project supported by USAID. As part of this project, Acted has rehabilitated 2 shallow wells till the end of September, and will continue to rehabilitate 4 water assets and construct two new ones in Southwest and Jubaland states, to provide safe drinking water to 4,885 HHs (over 29,000 individuals) of IDPs and host communities.

Dahabo Nur*, 38, lives in Gargar IDP site in Baardheere district, Jubaland state, southern Somalia, with her husband and 7 children.

Dabaho and her family, like many IDP communities in Baardheere, have been suffering from severe water shortages due to recurrent droughts and floods. The El Nino has also devasted the only shallow well that people from several IDP sites used as the primary water source. "After the shallow well was destroyed by floods, I used to walk long distances of 2 km to fetch water from the river, which was also an unreliable source (due to unguaranteed quality)," Dahabo said.

In response to the challenging situation of water shortage for the vulnerable communities, Acted and SADO rehabilitated the Bulo Ceesan shallow well in Baardheere district which was destroyed by the El Nino flood in 2023. After the rehabilitation, the shallow well is functioning and serves 700 IDP HHs with safe drinking water, including , Dahabo's family. Dahabo is now fetching water within walking distance, which improves her access to reliable safe water for basic needs and reduces her exposure to protection risks. The number of waterborne disease cases has significantly decreased, as reported by some IDP residents.

Before the rehabilitation of this shallow well, my children were often used to sick for but now they are healthy and comfortable with clean water we obtain from the shallow well

Dahabo

Acted thanks USAID/BHA for their ongoing support. With their generous support, Acted and its partners provide immediate life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable families, affected the droughts, conflict, and climate shocks.

The story of Dahabo shows how Acted and its partners are committed to improving the living conditions of families who are in dire need of humanitarian support.