Drought in Somalia

#DroughtinSomalia

Amid decades of conflict, recurrent climate shocks and disease outbreaks, the humanitarian situation in Somalia was already grave with the number of Somalis in need of humanitarian assistance and protection skyrocketing 30 per cent this year compared to 2021 to an estimated 7.7 million – and that was before the impact of the current drought.

Now, the situation has deteriorated. The drought has wiped out crop harvests and livestock are dying due to a lack of water and pasture, leaving many pastoral communities deprived of their only source of income.

More than 80 per cent of the country has remained generally dry, and water and staple food prices have experienced dramatic price hikes. The outlook is uncertain, with weather forecasts predicting an average to below-average rainy season.

In response, UN humanitarian agencies and their partners are ramping up responses and reprogramming activities to address the impact of the drought, as the levels of need are rapidly rising, surpassing available capacities and resources.

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