Community Perception Study on the Impact of Shebelle River Floods on Livelihoods in Baled Wayne District, Hirsh Belle State in Somalia

Abstract

This study looked at community perception on the impacts of Shebelle River floods on livelihoods in Baled Weyne District in Somalia. There is minimal research on the extent of the effects of Shebelle River flooding on community development in Baled Wayne hence this research sought to investigate more on the extent of these. The objectives of the study were as follows: to study into the causes of River flooding in Baledweyne district, to understand how river floods affect the socio-economic state of the residents and to investigate the coping mechanisms practiced by the local people around Baledweyne district during floods. A sample size of 397 respondents was extracted from a population of 55,410 using Sample Size Calculations for Slovene’s formula, and data was collected using the descriptive research design from 397 respondents through the use of self-administered questionnaires data collection instrument. The data was analyzed using graphs and pie charts, aided by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20 and data was presented using tables. The findings of this study showed that the heavy rains that come from high land of Ethiopia, lack of control structures of river banks and deforestation causes of Shebelle River flood in Baled weyne. The respondents indicated that the flooding of river Shebelle causes loss of lives, damage of infrastructure, increase of mass migration and a decrease in farm productivity. .Each year, rains are predicted for April – June with potential flood risks in Beled weyne, Hirshabelle among other areas in the country. In order to mitigate this upcoming disaster, the following recommendations such as flood water diversion, Preparation before flood coming and Re-establishing River Management Authority.