Beledweyne, HirShabelle – The Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) has warned residents across HirShabelle State—particularly in Beledweyne—of a looming flood threat as heavy rains in Ethiopia’s highlands threaten to raise the Shabelle River to dangerous levels.

In a statement released Friday, SoDMA urged residents to stay alert, avoid riverbanks, and identify safe areas for possible relocation. The agency emphasized that it is closely monitoring the river’s water levels, which have already begun to rise, and is working with local authorities to coordinate early response measures.

Beledweyne, the state’s capital and one of Somalia’s most flood-prone urban centers, faces particular danger. Past floods in the city have repeatedly displaced thousands, washed away homes, and disrupted livelihoods. The surrounding villages in Hiran region, including Bulo Burte and Jalalaqsi, also remain at high risk due to their proximity to the river and flat terrain.

Local officials in HirShabelle have begun advising residents to move belongings and livestock to higher ground. Humanitarian partners are reportedly preparing emergency supplies and assessing areas likely to be affected if the river breaches its banks.

The flood threat comes amid a wider climate crisis that continues to batter Somalia with alternating droughts and flash floods. Experts say the country’s vulnerability has deepened due to deforestation, poor drainage infrastructure, and shifting rainfall patterns linked to climate change.

For farmers in the Shabelle River basin, the situation is especially precarious. The same waters that nourish their crops and sustain their herds can, in a matter of days, sweep away entire harvests. Many now live in a state of uncertainty, watching the river rise inch by inch, unsure whether to hope for rain or fear it.

As HirShabelle braces for another potential disaster, SoDMA’s message is clear: vigilance and early preparation can save lives. But for communities that have endured this cycle year after year, the warning is a painful reminder of how climate change continues to redraw the boundaries of safety and survival in Somalia’s heartland.