The first half of 2020 saw devastating floods affecting countries in East Africa. A combination of fluvial (river) and pluvial (surface water) flooding affected Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Djibouti, Ethiopia and Somalia. Prolonged rainfall resulted in water levels rising in lakes including Lake Victoria, Lake Albert, Lake Kyoga and Lake Tanganyika causing them to burst their banks triggering further widespread floods.
Lake
Victoria saw the highest level in 60 years. According to the East African
Community’s Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC), water levels rose by more
than two metres. Lake Albert also witnessed historical levels. You can view the
water levels of lakes by following the link here.
The rising lake levels led to the displacement of numerous communities as a
result of the lakes breaching their banks. Weather stations recorded the
highest amount of rainfall in 40 years according to UNOCHA.
In
addition to the floods, torrential rainfall triggered numerous landslides and
mudslides, resulting in further fatalities and destruction. Hundreds of homes
and buildings including hospitals and health care facilities, infrastructure
such as roads and bridges and crops were damaged or destroyed. An entire town
in Somalia was washed away during a flood event. Livelihoods have been
destroyed or affected significantly.
According
to a report published by UN OCHA 1.3 million people were affected by the floods
from March to June. This figure excluded Uganda and Rwanda, where numbers are
yet to be determined.
Red
Cross and other humanitarian organisations responded to the disasters. Damage
assessments are being undertaken and accurate figures for some regions or
countries are yet to be determined.
Heavy
rainfall continued to cause widespread floods from June onwards leading to
further fatalities and damage. A reported published by the OCHA in October 2020
stated that 3.6 million people were affected by floods and landslides since
June 2020.
Tanzania:
On
27 January, floods in the Iringa, Lindi and Dodoma regions caused 13
fatalities. More than 18,000 people were affected, over 62 households displaced
and 1,746 houses and 1,074 latrines were destroyed. A number of schools were destroyed
and there was significant damage caused to infrastructure such as roads and
bridges. In addition, 495 acres of farmland was affected.
By
the end of February, floods had claimed 40 lives, displaced over 15,000 people
in 8,000 evacuation centres, destroyed 1,750 houses and 1074 latrines, caused
widespread damage and deaths of livestock and resulted in damage to farms. In
addition, 25,000 people were evacuated as a result of the Nyumba ya Mungu dam reaching
its capacity and overflowing.
On
20 April, 50 houses were destroyed by landslides in Arusha and 2,700 households
were left homeless in the Moshi District. In addition, 31,500 people were
displaced.
Additional
damage occurred in towns and cities such as Mwanza and Bukoba has result of rising
water levels in Lake Victoria. Trees, beach side buildings and infrastructure were
damaged, destroyed or submerged. High water levels in the lake are continuing
to cause issues in these towns. In Bukoba, a makeshift wall has been constructed
to prevent further flooding and damage.
Floods continued to cause destruction across Tanzania in late 2020. The cities of Dar es Salaam and Mwanza witnessed disruption and damage to infrastructure, buildings, houses and businesses in October and November 2020 as shown in the videos and photos below.
In
total, 31,000 people were affected by floods in Tanzania. The Tanzanian Red
Cross has been conducting assessments and assisting those that were affected in
2020. A final report was published by them in April 2021 which can be found on their
website.
Uganda:
Floods
and landslides claimed 11 lives in Uganda. A hospital was destroyed and one was
damaged in Kilembe. Entire hospital wards washed away.
In
addition, 80 families were displaced in the Butebo District on 17 March when
houses were destroyed by floods. In April, over 200 people were displaced and
on 9 May floods and landslides in the Kween District claimed 3 lives, affected
120,000 people, left over 200 families in need of aid and destroyed several
houses. Furthermore, over 100,000 people were displaced in Kabale District as a
result of flooding and over 3,000 people were affected in the Bundibugyo
District.
On
21 May, 11 fatalities occurred in the Kasese District. 5,000 people were also
displaced, houses and livestock were washed away and schools, roads, bridges,
water and sanitation systems were destroyed. Estimates suggests that over
100,000 people were displaced in the Kasese District since flooding began.
In
the Isingiro District, floods on 1 May led to 4 fatalities and left 3 missing
and 5,000 people displaced. 2 fatalities also occurred in the Rubanda District where
31 houses were destroyed and 500 families were displaced in the Busia District.
Landslides triggered by the heavy rainfall on 1 May caused damage to roads and
houses in the Kabale District
The
number of people affected by the floods since the beginning of the 2020 is yet
to be determined.
Kenya:
On
30 January floods caused 1 fatality and the displacement of 117 families. In
addition to transport disruption, houses and infrastructure being damaged and
destroyed, the Maasai Mara National Reserve was left isolated due to the
floods.
237
fatalities occurred in Kenya as a result of landslides and floods after 17
April. Additionally, 233,000 people were affected and 116,000 were displaced.
Two villages were evacuated due to extremely high water levels at two dams. Water
levels in the Masinga dam rose to over 10.80m.
Flooding
from the Nzoia River resulted in 40,000 people being displaced. Extensive
flooding affected 36 out of the 47 counties in the country. Properties, houses,
infrastructure such as bridges, farms, crops and flood defence structures such
as dykes were damaged or destroyed. 12 bridges were damaged and 24 footbridges
were destroyed. In Tana River County, 17,143 people were displaced and more
than 4,000 ha of crops were submerged. Rhamu Dimtu, Khalicha, Yabicho, Girisa,
Sala, Hareri, Darika, Gadudia and Khalalio were the worst affected villages.
Rising
water levels in Lake Turkana has submerged numerous villages, displacing
thousands. According to reports, more than 200,000 people including fisherman
have been affected by the rising water levels. Unfortunately, the displacement
of communities from rising water levels from lakes is continuing through 2021.
Burundi:
Floods
on 19 February displaced 11,000 people. In the Bubanza Province, flooding caused
3 fatalities and injured 19 people and in the Bujumbura Mairie Province more
than 700 houses were damaged or destroyed. In the village of Gatumba 9,743 people
were affected and 3,072 houses were damaged. 1 fatality occurred and over 50,000
people were affected by floods which occurred after March.
6
districts were affected, an estimated 27,972 people displaced and 6,010 houses
damaged or destroyed in Gatumba by flooding from the Ruzizi River on 19 April.
Severe weather and landslides affected 813 people in Rumonge and Bubanza
provinces leading to further displacement and damage. 400 ha of crops were also
damaged.
In
Mutimbuzi commune, 160 houses were destroyed, 70 houses were damaged and 7,600
were flooded. 90% of the population of Gatumba were affected. Further flooding
on 30 April displaced an additional 2,000 households. 813 people were affected
in the Rumonge and Bubanza provinces due to severe weather and landslides.
Lake
levels keep rising in Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika. In April 2021,
continuing rising water levels in Lake Tanganyika has resulted in the displacement
of 2,000 people in west Burundi. Furthermore, over 6,200 families were
evacuated and over 30,000 people were affected.
Rwanda:
Severe
weather led to 70 fatalities on 1 May and affected 7 districts. A total of 97
lives were claimed by floods in Rwanda.
Djibouti:
Floods
resulted in 8 fatalities in Djibouti and an estimated 110,000 people were
affected. The worst affected were Djibouti city and surrounding areas.
Ethiopia:
Heavy
rainfall and floods caused 12 fatalities in Dire Dawa and Shabelle regions,
affected 219,000 people and displaced 107,000 people. Widespread damage was
caused to houses, buildings, infrastructure and crops.
Floods
caused 4 fatalities, destroyed 53 houses and partially damaged 212 houses in
Dire Dawa on 24 April. Further flooding on 25 April and 26 April damaged
infrastructure, affected 34,507 households and displaced 15,195 households. Livestock
were also affected in Jinka and a main bridge was destroyed on 4 May. The
floods resulted in 34 fatalities in the country.
Somalia:
Flooding
caused 24 fatalities, affected over 850,000 people and displaced 330,000 people
in Somalia. An entire small town was washed away. Belet Weyne was the worst
affected district amongst the 27 which were affected. In the Hiran region, more
than 115,000 people were displaced.
Houses,
agricultural infrastructure, canals and crops were damaged or destroyed,
livestock killed and water supplies contaminated. In Galmudug State, 80% of
shops were damaged in the town and 133 goats were killed in May. In Jubaland
State, 600 farms along the River Dawa were affected. An estimated $20,0000
worth of crops were destroyed.
Further
flooding on 23 August displaced 15,000 people in Belet Weyne, affected 31
villages and inundated 2,100 ha of agricultural land. 263 villages were
affected and 130,000 ha of crops were inundated in Middle Shabelle.
*Note:
Figures may vary as more accurate data become available.
References:
- Reliefweb
- UN OCHA
- ECHO
- Floodlist
- Red Cross / International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)
- Tanzania Red Cross
- Kenya Red Cross
- Uganda Red Cross
- Global Disaster and Coordination System (GDAC)
- Pacific Disaster Centre (PDC)
- NASA
- World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
- Preventionweb
- World Food Programme
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