Photograph of flooding in Somalia
Production date
1981
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Black and white photograph of flooding in Somalia in 1981.
This photograph portrays the flooding in 1981 which resulted from one of the heaviest rainfalls in Somalia’s history. Flooding has resulted in the massive displacement of the Somali population whose homes have been destroyed by flooding. It has also led to widespread damage to cropland, infrastructure as well as fatalities. Humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross responded by providing internally displaced people with emergency services in health, nutrition, shelter, water and sanitation.
Somalia has experienced recurring crises in flooding as well as other climatic shocks since this photograph was taken in 1981. This extremity and degree in flooding has not been seen in Somalia until most recently in 2018 where half a million people were affected. The Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, Mahdi Mohamed Guled, underscored the long-term dangers and challenges when he said; “as climate change risks invariably increase… the more resources are needed” for those affected by flooding.
I was particularly drawn to this photograph for its relevancy today as climate change has and is predicted to displace and affect more populations, in Somalia and across the world. As Mr Guled stated; “Nowadays people talk about climate change refugees and, truly, what we are experiencing is displaced people – displaced because of climate change.”
Audio recording by Umalkhaire Goran (Volunteer), Cardiff.
This photograph portrays the flooding in 1981 which resulted from one of the heaviest rainfalls in Somalia’s history. Flooding has resulted in the massive displacement of the Somali population whose homes have been destroyed by flooding. It has also led to widespread damage to cropland, infrastructure as well as fatalities. Humanitarian organizations like the Red Cross responded by providing internally displaced people with emergency services in health, nutrition, shelter, water and sanitation.
Somalia has experienced recurring crises in flooding as well as other climatic shocks since this photograph was taken in 1981. This extremity and degree in flooding has not been seen in Somalia until most recently in 2018 where half a million people were affected. The Deputy Prime Minister of Somalia, Mahdi Mohamed Guled, underscored the long-term dangers and challenges when he said; “as climate change risks invariably increase… the more resources are needed” for those affected by flooding.
I was particularly drawn to this photograph for its relevancy today as climate change has and is predicted to displace and affect more populations, in Somalia and across the world. As Mr Guled stated; “Nowadays people talk about climate change refugees and, truly, what we are experiencing is displaced people – displaced because of climate change.”
Audio recording by Umalkhaire Goran (Volunteer), Cardiff.
Collection Type
Archives
Level of Current Record
item
Catalogue Number
119(5)/IN6679
Subject auto tags
Part of 1 highlight set
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