Satellite detected water over Belet Weyne District,Hiraan Region, Somalia

This map illustrates satellite-detected flood water extent over the district of Belet Weyne, Hiraan region, Somalia using a SAR image from 06 May 2018 and an optical VHR image over Beledweyne town. More than 2800 km2 of lands were assessed and about 19,000 ha (190km2) appear to be inundated which corresponds to about to about 7% of the total analysed zone. In this analysed area and according to WorldPop data the population is estimated to ~126,000 people, ~ 32,000 live in the flooded zone and about 70,000 within 100 meters distance from the flooded areas. It is likely that flood waters have been systematically underestimated along highly vegetated areas along main river banks and within built-up urban areas because of the special characteristics of the satellite data used. This is a preliminary analysis and has not yet been validated in the field. Please send ground feedback to UNITAR UNOSAT.