Since 2022, New Ways Organization (NWO) has been working alongside communities in Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle, Bay, and Galgadud regions to strengthen disaster preparedness and build resilience against the recurrent floods and droughts that affect Somalia each year. Over the past three years, our Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Emergency Response initiatives have directly reached more than 65,000 people, helping families anticipate, withstand, and recover from crises that threaten their lives and livelihoods.

Empowering Communities Before and During Crises

Because floods and droughts occur almost every year in Somalia, our work focuses on both preparedness and response. Before disasters strike, New Ways Organization conducts wide-ranging awareness and education campaigns through local radio programs, video clips, and leaflets designed to reach even the most remote communities. These materials teach families, especially children, how to stay safe during floods, avoid dangerous objects, handle electricity carefully, and never drink or play in contaminated floodwater.

 Mapping Risks and Strengthening Local Preparedness

 In collaboration with local authorities and the CDMCs, we carried out community hazard mapping and vulnerability assessments to identify areas most at risk. This information guided the creation of community evacuation and preparedness plans in some villages across Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle, and Bay. These plans help communities take early action, such as moving livestock and families to higher ground before floods arrive.

Reducing Risk Through Practical Interventions

New Ways Organization also supports risk reduction projects that make communities safer. In flood-prone districts like Qoryooley, Afgoye, Johar and Kurtunwarey, we rehabilitated drainage channels and small embankments to protect homes and farmland. In rural areas of Bay, Lower Shabelle and Galgadud, we repaired and reinforced latrines and water points, ensuring access to safe sanitation even after floods. We also chlorinated wells to prevent the spread of waterborne diseases and encouraged communities to relocate to higher and safer grounds during flooding seasons.

Responding to Emergencies and Saving Lives

When floods or droughts hit, New Ways Organization is among the first responders. We provide temporary shelters, distribute food, clean water, and hygiene kits, and deliver water trucking services to affected rural communities in Galgaduud, Lower Shabelle, and Bay.

We also deploy integrated mobile teams that combine health, nutrition, and protection services, ensuring that displaced families, especially women and children, receive lifesaving support. Our teams work closely with trained community volunteers who help identify the most vulnerable households and ensure that assistance reaches those in greatest need.

Partnerships, Coordination, and Collective Action

Throughout this work, New Ways Organization actively engages with diaspora groups, international NGOs, and UN agencies to mobilize resources and coordinate emergency response efforts. These partnerships have been vital in scaling up interventions, sharing information, and ensuring that responses are timely and effective.

By aligning local action with national and international DRR strategies, we have strengthened community resilience and helped reduce disaster-related losses in many parts of South-Central Somalia.

Looking Ahead

Today, communities in Lower Shabelle, Middle Shabelle, Bay, and Galgadud are more informed, better organized, and increasingly capable of managing crises. NWO remarkably contributes to the broader humanitarian efforts in these regions, complementing the work of partner agencies and ensuring that collective action leads to lasting impact.

The progress achieved over the past years demonstrates that when communities are equipped with the right tools, practical knowledge, and strong partnerships, vulnerability can be significantly reduced and resilience strengthened.

As we look to the future, New Ways Organization remains firmly committed to expanding its Disaster Risk Reduction and emergency response efforts across Somalia. Our goal is to ensure that communities are better prepared, more resilient, and capable of facing crises with confidence, so that preparedness, not disaster, shapes the everyday lives of Somali people.