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Flood Crisis in Somalia: An Overview
Recently, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) addressed a historic event, highlighting the devastating floods that impacted Somalia and other East African nations after a significant drought period. The flood’s primary cause is vast rainfall, worsened by climatic occurrences such as El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole. This crisis hasn’t only affected Somalia but has also affected neighbouring Kenya, causing 15 deaths and bringing about sizeable challenges due to flooding in regions like Mombasa, Mandera, and Wajir.
Understanding the Role of OCHA
OCHA, part of the United Nations Secretariat, is responsible for coordinating humanitarian actors to ensure coherency during emergencies. This group ensures there is an operational framework where every actor involved can contribute to the overall response effort.
Getting to Know El Niño and The Indian Ocean Dipole
El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), sometimes known as the Indian Nino, are similar phenomena occurring in the Indian Ocean. El Niño is a phase known for its warmer-than-normal temperatures and less rainfall in many regions worldwide, including India. The IOD, on the other hand, signifies positive conditions when the Indian Ocean’s western side near the Somalia coast warms up compared to the eastern side. Conversely, it’s negative when the western part is cooler.
A Look at the Mechanism of IOD
The Indian Ocean’s air circulation moves from west to east on the surface and in the opposite direction at higher levels. This movement pushes surface waters from west to east in normal years. However, during negative and positive IOD events, the air circulation strength changes, impacting the temperature distribution between the African and Indonesian coasts.
Impact of IOD
The IOD’s effects, though lesser compared to El Nino, can cause noticeable changes. A positive IOD causes rainfall along the African coastline and the Indian sub-continent, while suppressing rainfall over Indonesia, Southeast Asia and Australia. The effects are reversed during a negative IOD event.
Key Facts About Somalia
Somalia, located in the Horn of Africa, is bordered by the Gulf of Aden in the north, the Indian Ocean in the east, Kenya and Ethiopia in the west, and Djibouti in the northwest. The capital, Mogadishu, is also the largest city. Somalia features various landscapes like arid plains, highlands, and mountain ranges. The climate generally ranges from arid to semi-arid with hot temperatures and limited rainfall. The coastal regions have a moderate climate due to the Indian Ocean’s influence.
Examining IOD in the Context of UPSC Civil Services Examination
The topic of the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) has been a focus of discussions particularly in forecasting the Indian monsoon. For instance, a question from the 2017 Prelims of the Civil Services Examination required candidates to understand IOD and its potential influence on El Nino’s impact on the monsoon. Understanding this climatic happening can guide future discussions on unusual climatic events, as seen in a Mains question from 2014, which attributed such occurrences to the El-Nino effect.
The floods in Somalia and the East African region merely underline the need for a more comprehensive understanding and addressing of these major climatic phenomena. As humanity grapples with an increasingly unpredictable climate, understanding the mechanisms behind and impacts of such events becomes crucial.