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Source– This post is based on the article “Once-in-a-century flooding swamps Somalia after historic drought” published in “The Hindu” on 14th November 2023.
Why in the News?
Somalia is facing severe flooding, triggered by heavy seasonal downpours, which have been exacerbated by El Nino and the Indian Ocean Dipole. The United Nations has labelled this as a ‘once-in-a-century event’.
What is El Nino?
Where is Somalia and what are its features?

| Aspect | Details |
| What is it? | It is a country situated in the Horn of Africa (large peninsula and geopolitical region in East Africa). |
| Surrounding borders | The country is bordered by 1. Ethiopia to the west 2. Djibouti to the northwest 3. the Gulf of Aden to the north 4. The Indian Ocean to the east 5. Kenya to the southwest |
| Important Features | 1. It has the longest coastline on Africa’s mainland. 2. It has been described as Africa’s most culturally homogeneous country. 3. Cal Madow is a mountain range in the northeastern part of the country (it features Somalia’s highest peak- Shimbiris). |
Note– Countries called the Horn of Africa: SEED
S- Somalia , E- Ethiopia, E- Eritrea, D- Djibouti
UPSC Syllabus- Geography(Places in News)



