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Conflict and Displacement

Somalia has been experiencing an ongoing civil war for more than 20 years, one of Africa’s oldest wars. During this time, more than 500,000 people have lost their lives and even more have been displaced, causing grave humanitarian concerns by international agencies and organisations. Armed conflict has forced people to retreat from their homes to areas of the country that are being affected by drought and other natural disasters. The injured victims who wish to seek treatment are forced to visit healthcare facilities and hospitals that are low on supplies and staff, often facing overcrowded conditions.

The civil war has exacerbated conditions of poverty as those who face displacement are unable to seek jobs and provide for their families. Thus, many injured are unable to afford treatment for their illnesses and injuries. Destruction of infrastructure due to armed conflict has made access to basic necessities such as water, electricity, and food difficult.

Somalia’s Climate Crisis

2023 was a particularly difficult time for Somalia as it grappled with extreme climate events, including the worst case of drought since 1981. These drought conditions forced thousands of people to leave their homes, affecting rural communities in particular. Crop yield and production decreased significantly. Farmers were unable to provide livestock with water, having many of their animals, that were a source of income, die. This crisis was compounded by the effects of El Niño and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD), which caused intense flooding, leading to further displacement, destruction of homes, farmland, and crops, and death. More than 1.7 million people have been displaced, and 1.5 million hectares of farmland flooded and destroyed. Civilian infrastructure was destroyed and much of it has yet to be rebuilt as costs go up.

Somalia’s Famine-like Conditions

Continued armed conflict, coupled with severe droughts and extreme flooding almost brought Somalia to the brink of famine, thwarted only by humanitarian organisations launching emergency responses. However, the crisis still remains. More than 6 million people are still facing acute food insecurity, with at least 40,000 facing catastrophic hunger. Unprecedented rainfall that followed long lasting droughts devastated farmland and severely reduced the food supply in the country, driving up prices. More than 3.8 million people are displaced, living in displacement sites that do not have regular or steady flows of food, and are heavily reliant on food aid. More than 1.8 million children are facing acute malnutrition. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are especially vulnerable as they lack the nutrients to feed their infant babies.

Water Security Concerns

Water security is another critical issue facing Somalia. Exacerbated by recurrent droughts, inadequate infrastructure, and flooding, many communities lack access to clean and safe drinking water, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases and illness. Catastrophic droughts risked drying up 80% of Somalia’s water sources, while flooding damaged or contaminated other sources of water. More than 4 million people lack access to clean water.

Earlier in 2024, Somalia experienced an outbreak of cholera killing hundreds of people. However, cholera transmission has been ongoing since 2022, blamed largely on poor sanitation conditions and limited access to clean water. In 2023, more than 18,000 cases of cholera were reported, including over 10,000 children under the age of 5.