# The 1997 Deyr floods in southern Somalia

> The El Niño floods of October 1997 to early 1998 along the Juba and Shabelle rivers: deaths, displacement, crop and livestock losses, disease, and the relief airlift.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/society/floods-1997-deyr/
Last checked: 2026-11-13
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## In short

The October to December 1997 rains in East Africa came with a strong El Niño. Rainfall in southern Somalia was more than 500 mm above normal, reaching record levels for the season ([NOAA Climate Prediction Center, 1997 assessment](https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/assessments/assess_97/africa.html)). The [Juba](/en/economy/farming-and-harvests/) and Shabelle rivers burst their banks from late October.

By 17 February 1998 the confirmed death toll stood at **2,311**, and "approximately 1 million people still remain in need of assistance" ([OCHA, Situation Report No. 15, 25 February 1998](https://reliefweb.int/report/somalia/somalia-floods-ocha-situation-report-no-15)). The World Meteorological Organization put deaths at about 2,000 (NOAA, 1997).

## The toll as it was counted

| Date | Deaths confirmed | Displaced | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Nov 1997 | 641 | | [SACB floods update](https://reliefweb.int/report/somalia/floods-update-14-nov-1997) |
| 21 Nov 1997 | 1,307 | 227,914 | [SACB floods update](https://reliefweb.int/report/somalia/floods-update-21-nov-1997) |
| 17 Feb 1998 | 2,311 | | OCHA, 25 February 1998 |

SACB is the Somalia Aid Coordination Body, which ran the inter-agency flood response.

## Where it struck

Reports from the ground in November 1997 (SACB updates, 14 and 21 November 1997):

- **Beledweyne.** About half the town's people were moved to an area near the airport. Local authorities said 35 villages in the area were abandoned.
- **[Afmadow](/en/regions/lower-juba/).** The town was "reportedly completely flooded", with water 1.3 to 3 metres deep. More than 10,000 displaced people were stranded without food or shelter.
- **[Baardheere](/en/regions/baardheere/).** 20 flood deaths and 2,000 newly displaced families (WFP).
- **Tiyeeglow and [Xuddur](/en/regions/bakool/).** WFP reported 32 villages destroyed in Tiyeeglow and 20 people killed in Xuddur.
- **Jowhar.** The Shabelle breached its banks 30 km north and 8 km south of the town.
- **Badhaadhe.** People in Doqosh Doqosh village were rescued by swimmers using boats made from empty drums.

## Food, crops and livestock

- FAO said at least half the cereal crops in southern growing areas suffered serious flood damage. Food prices tripled in the flooded areas, and the need for food aid rose from 32,000 to 60,000 tonnes ([FAO GIEWS special alert, 28 November 1997](https://reliefweb.int/report/somalia/special-alert-issued-food-supply-somalia)).
- More than 60,000 hectares of crops and farmland were destroyed, along with stores of sorghum kept in underground pits (SACB, 21 November 1997).
- More than 34,000 livestock had died of disease by February 1998 (OCHA, 25 February 1998).

## Disease

OCHA reported outbreaks of "cholera, diarrhoea, malaria, respiratory infections, and haemorrhagic fever". WHO counted 5,983 cholera cases and 243 deaths by 17 February 1998 (OCHA, 25 February 1998). The haemorrhagic fever was Rift Valley fever; see [other disease outbreaks](/en/society/other-disease-outbreaks-in-somalia/) and [cholera in Somalia](/en/society/cholera-in-somalia/).

## The response

- Many roads were cut, so food went in by air. Airlifts and airdrops were "the only means of reaching thousands of flood victims" in early 1998 (OCHA, 25 February 1998).
- Norway gave UNICEF ten boats; France gave US$250,000 for helicopters (SACB, 21 November 1997).
- A flash appeal was issued on 24 December 1997. A revised appeal for **US$15.3 million**, to run to June 1998, was endorsed on 24 February 1998 (OCHA, 25 February 1998).

## Related pages

- [Floods in Somalia, 2007 to 2024](/en/society/floods-in-somalia-2007-2024/)
- [The 2023 Deyr floods](/en/society/floods-2023-deyr/)
- [Disasters in Somalia: a list](/en/society/disasters-in-somalia-list/)

## Sources

- SACB (1997). [Floods update, 14 November 1997](https://reliefweb.int/report/somalia/floods-update-14-nov-1997) and [21 November 1997](https://reliefweb.int/report/somalia/floods-update-21-nov-1997), via ReliefWeb.
- FAO (1997). [Special alert issued on food supply in Somalia](https://reliefweb.int/report/somalia/special-alert-issued-food-supply-somalia), 28 November 1997.
- OCHA (1998). [Somalia floods situation report no. 15](https://reliefweb.int/report/somalia/somalia-floods-ocha-situation-report-no-15), 25 February 1998.
- NOAA Climate Prediction Center (1998). [1997 climate assessment: Africa](https://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/assessments/assess_97/africa.html).
- ReliefWeb. [Somalia: Floods – Nov 1997](https://reliefweb.int/disaster/fl-1997-000265-som).

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