2020 Tropical Cyclone Gati Path

Tropical Cyclone Gati originated from the Bay of Bengal. On 22 November 2020 at around 13:00 UTC, TC Gati became the strongest ever documented tropical storm to hit Somalia. Gati made landfall at Ras Hafun (Northeast of Somalia) with maximum sustained winds of 170Km/hr and was classified as a Category 2 storm (or category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson scale). This layers shows the occurence of TC Gati in two regions of Somali, Sanaag and Bari Regions. TC Gati primarily impacted parts of Bari region in Puntland State and then Sanaag region in Somaliland. Authorities reported rainfall totals from the storm to be greater than the amounts normally seen for the whole year. In a 24-hour period, Bosaso recorded 128mm of rain and Balidhidin 103mm. By 25th November 2020, TC Gati had dissipated but it left trail of destruction across Bari and Sanaag regions of Somalia. Authorities estimated 180,000 people (30,000 households) had been affected in Puntland Regional State, with 42,000 people (7,000 households) displaced and at least eight people killed and unknown number injured, with considerable damages reported to infrastructure, livelihoods, and social services (telecommunication, electricity, roads, schools). Resultant flooding bursted the sewerage system and increased risk of diseases among the affected population. By the end of December, the storm had killed 9 people and over 63 000 livestock (sheep and goats), and affected around 183 000 people.  The heavy rains caused the Ceel-Daahir River in Puntland to flood, blocking vehicles from bringing crucial supplies. In some towns such as Xaafun, Hurdiye, and Karduush people reported losing their entire herds of livestock. There were also reports of the destruction of 120 fishing vessels in these areas resulting in the loss of livelihood for an estimated 460 fishermen.

2020 Tropical Cyclone Gati struck a couple of Somalia Districts including Ceerigaabo, Ceel Afweyn, Laasqoray, Bossaso, Bandarbeyla, Caluula, Qandala and Qardho District. On November 22-23, 2020 TC Gati made landfall in northern Somalia, becoming the first hurricane-equivalent storm to hit the Horn of Africa. TC Gati originated from the Bay of Bengal. It made landfall at Ras Hafun (Northeast of Somalia) with maximum sustained winds of 170Km/hr. By 25 November 2020, TC GATI had dissipated but it left trail of destruction across Bari and Sanaag regions. Somalia villages struck by the storm included Bargaal, Gumbax, Caluula, Qandala, Lasqoray, Hadaaftimo, Badhan, Qardho, Waaciye, Ceel Dofaar, Iskushuban, Bilke, Bandarbyla, Baar-Madobe, Xaafuun, Hordio, Handa, Itaageer, Ahable, Dhaankadus, Dul Xaafuun, Dardaare, Garan, Baarmadowe, Hurdiya, Foocaar, Afdhicin, Haluula, Kurduush, , Taageer and Xandha. Tropical Cyclone Gati was the strongest storm ever recorded in the northern Indian Ocean and wreaked unimaginable damage on people and property. GATI left a trail of destruction across Bari and Sanaag regions of Somalia, disproportionately affecting coastal communities. Authorities estimated 180,000 people (30,000 households) had been affected in Puntland Regional State, with 42,000 people (7,000 households) displaced and at least eight people killed and unknown number injured, with considerable damage reported to infrastructure, livelihoods, and social services (telecommunication, electricity, roads, schools). Resultant flooding burst sewerage system and increased the risk of diseases among the affected population. The worst hit areas were Baargaal, Foocaar, Garduush, Hurdiya, and Xaafuun, Foocaar, Garduush and Garan Hoose were worst hit villages in the Indian Ocean, Bosaso and Qandala in the Gulf of Aden, and Baarmadowe.

This layer shows movement path of 2019 Tropical Cyclone Pawan in Somalia. A Tropical Storm initially named 06A formed in the northern Indian Ocean and later developed into a Tropical Cyclone named Pawan after sustaining wind speeds of more than 39mph (48kph) and heavy rain for two days. TC Pawan spread its clouds as far northwest as Oman and Yemen on its way to Somalia. It made landfall in Somalia on 7th December 2019 on the Coastal side of Puntland (Bossaso, Garowe).   The worst hit areas by 2019 TC Pawan included Nugaal Region (Eyl and Dangorayo Districts), Karkaar (Qardho District) and Bari Region (Alula, Iskushuban, and Baargaal Districts) who are under Garowe Somalia Red Crescent Society (SRCS) Branch) and the Coastal villages of Hafun, Iskushuban, Baargaal, Quandala and Alula Districts in Bari Region (under Bosasso SRCS Branch). Other areas affected include the coastal villages in Bari Region including Hafun, Iskushuban, Baargaal, Quandala and Alula districts. Most affected households needed urgent humanitarian assistance as they were already living in dire conditions prior to the crisis. The destruction and flooding caused by TC Pawan increased the vulnerability of communities and heightened the impact of the ever -challenging climatic extremes. The assessment estimated that 35,600 households, representing a population of 213,600 people had been affected. The assessment further estimated the affected population to represented 60-70% of the entire Bari and Nugaal Regions.

Tropical cyclones hitting Somalia Regions for the period between 1984 to 2020. This layer indicates the frequency of cyclone occurence within specific regions of Somalia. The cyclones recorded include: 1984 Tropical Cyclone 1A 1984 Tropical Cyclone 4B 1992 Tropical Cyclone 12A 1994 Tropical Cyclone 05A 1997 Tropical Cyclone 03A 2004 Tropical Cyclone Agni 2010 Tropical Cyclone Bandu 2012 Tropical Cyclone Murjan 2013 Tropical Cyclone 3A 2015 Tropical Cyclone Chapala 2015 Tropical Cyclone Megh 2018 Tropical Cyclone Sagar 2019 Tropical Cyclone Pawan 2020 Tropical Cyclone Gati

Tropical cyclones hitting Somalia Districts for the period between 1984 to 2020. This layer indicates the frequency of cyclone occurence within specific regions. The cyclones recorded include: 1984 Tropical Cyclone 1A 1984 Tropical Cyclone 4B 1992 Tropical Cyclone 12A 1994 Tropical Cyclone 05A 1997 Tropical Cyclone 03A 2004 Tropical Cyclone Agni 2010 Tropical Cyclone Bandu 2012 Tropical Cyclone Murjan 2013 Tropical Cyclone 3A 2015 Tropical Cyclone Chapala 2015 Tropical Cyclone Megh 2018 Tropical Cyclone Sagar 2019 Tropical Cyclone Pawan 2020 Tropical Cyclone Gati

This layer shows the movement path of 2018 Tropical Cyclone Sagar. Cyclone Sagar made landfall in north-western Somaliland on 19 May, 2018. It was a very rare cyclone in the Gulf of Aden. The storm moved with wind gusts of up to 120 km/hour that delivered a year’s worth of rain to some areas, that is between 150 and 200mm in some parts of the north. UNICEF was among the first to respond following the powerful tropical cyclone which caused death and widespread destruction in Hargeisa, Somaliland. As per UNICEF reports, some 170,000 were affected by Cyclone Sagar which hit the coast of north-western Somaliland and Djibouti on 18th May 2018 bringing heavy rains leading to flooding and adverse impacts. On 19th May 2018, Cyclone Sagar made landfall in western Somaliland, impacting close to 170,000 people, mainly in Awdal region. The floods in the south and the cyclone in the north destroyed crops, destroyed shelters and social service infrastructure, including water, health, nutrition, and education facilities. The Somaliland authorities estimated 50 people died and seven were still missing. In Somaliland, at least 16 people died in Galbeed and Awdal, where the cyclone made landfall. Three quarters of the livestock were killed along with major damage of water systems and health facilities and 39 schools were damaged or destroyed with a major impact on children.   By the end of 2018, more than 5.7 million people required basic health services, including critical needs in maternal and child health.