Emergency reporting

Between 28 September and 3 October 2026, armed clashes erupted in Baidoa between forces associated with the former Southwest State administration and the Somali National Army. The fighting damaged residential areas, internally displaced person settlements, hospitals, and schools. The UN Refugee Agency reported on 6 October 2026 that the violence displaced 934 households and caused at least 11 deaths. Roads leading to hospitals were blocked during the fighting, restricting civilian access to medical care. South West State authorities announced on 6 October 2026 that forces had been deployed outside the city to prevent further urban fighting.

Baidoa

Somalia has entered the Deyr rainy season with a forecast for exceptionally heavy rainfall. The Somali Disaster Management Agency warned on 6 October 2026 that the Shabelle River had breached its banks at 366 critical locations. Authorities are urging riverine communities to monitor water levels and prepare emergency kits. According to the Somali Disaster Management Agency on 4 October 2026, only $7 million of an estimated $208 million needed for relief efforts has been raised. The broader 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan remains less than one-third funded.

Jubba and Shabelle river basins

Consecutive below-average agricultural seasons have severely depleted household resources in Southern Somalia. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification in October 2026, 5.4 million people face high acute food insecurity, including nearly 26,000 internally displaced persons in Baidoa facing Catastrophe. The Famine Early Warning Systems Network warned on 7 October 2026 that extreme flooding during the October to December Deyr season could trigger Famine. The World Food Programme reported on 29 September 2026 that a funding shortfall limited its food response to 670,000 people. Health clinics are turning away patients due to a lack of resources.

Baidoa · Beletweyne · Jowhar · Dolow