Somalia: Severe water crisis unravelling as sources dry up.

Somalia: Severe water crisis unravelling as sources dry up

Critical water sources are drying up as drought conditions escalate in Somalia, unleashing severe water and food scarcity across all regions. The Federal Government has declared a national drought emergency and called for urgent assistance to affected people.

The emergency follows the poor performance of both the April–June and the October–December rains, and is compounded by funding shortfalls for humanitarian assistance that have exacerbated Somalia’s already dire humanitarian situation. At least 4.4 million people—more than one-fifth of the population—are projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity from October to December 2025. An estimated 1.85 million children under 5 are expected to suffer acute malnutrition through July 2026, according to the IPC report released on 23 September.

In the north, severe drought conditions have displaced an estimated 156,000 people from their homes in Togdheer, Sanaag and Sool regions, with about 55,800 crossings into Ethiopia in search of pasture and water, according to the UNHCR – led Protection and Solutions Monitoring Network (PSMN). More than 60,000 livestock are estimated to have died, and 120,000 to be in critical condition. Severe drought conditions are also reported in Bari and Mudug regions where key water sources have dried up, food prices have risen and livestock has been lost. Increased hardship is reported in virtually all regions, with internally displaced people hardest hit.

A mission by OCHA on 1 December found a concerning situation in Siinaay village, 15 kms north of Doolow town in Gedo region in the south. Enveloped by simmering heat, the village last received light rains six months ago, in May. The vegetation has dried up, and dust clouds hang over the empty land. A water reservoir constructed by aid agencies two years ago sits empty. The area has never received enough rain to fill it, and the recent dry spell has evaporated whatever water had accumulated.

A month earlier, in November, relief came to Siinaay when a local NGO, Lifeline Gedo, started trucking water to the village. The relief, however, was short-lived as the partner ran out of funds and suspended the water delivery on 1 December. “We were delivering 10,000 litres of water a day,” said Abdi Abdullahi, technical manager for Lifeline Gedo. “We are appealing for support to continue providing water for this community.”

Siinaay hosts about 200 households, but three times as many pastoralist families from surrounding rural areas rely on its services. It has a small clinic providing basic health care and outreach programmes. Omar Fani from Vision Corps Initiative, an agency that is supporting Siinaay Clinic, said that more people from the village and surrounding pastoral communities now seek help. “We used to serve about 5,000 clients,” he said. “Due to the drought conditions, we are now receiving twice as many clients.”

Authorities estimate that in Gedo, Lower Juba and Middle Juba regions, authorities estimate that over 570,000 people are facing serious water shortages. Families trek long distances to find water, and where it is commercially available, the cost is far beyond reach. “People move up to 30 kms to look for water,” said Abdikani Hassan, humanitarian and development coordinator in Doolow district. Water truckers, he added, charge up to US$1per 20-litre jerrycan, compared to an average of $3 to $4 for 20 jerricans before the crisis hit.

In Doolow town, which lies on the banks of the Juba and Dawa rivers, the water levels have dropped. “Normally, the river would be full or even flooding because we should be at the end of the October–December rain season,” said an aid worker in Doolow. “Instead, the level has fallen.”

The river meanders provides a lifeline for local communities. Mohamed Abdullahi Kusow, coordinator for the water resources ministry in Doolow district, warned that further decline in river levels will have serious consequences for livelihoods, water quality and public health.

“Small-scale farmers will struggle to irrigate their farms, resulting in reduced crop yields,” he explained, adding that communities that use water from the river could face the risk of Acute Watery Diarrhoea due to possible contamination.

Falling water levels will also affect nearby wells, making them more saline, reducing output and, in some cases, rendering the water undrinkable. In addition, the dry conditions have undermined the current cropping season in key cereal-producing areas. In areas like Doolow and Jamaame, where farmers depend on river-fed irrigation, dry conditions have rendered fertile land uncultivable.

Aid agencies expect a surge in displacement of people as agro-pastoralists migrate further in search of water and pasture. Already, movements are reported toward neighbouring Ethiopia and Kenya, and into Doolow district where half of the population of about 200,000 already consists of displaced people.

Fatuma Ali, a mother of six, left her home in Ceel Boon, Bakool region, in search of food and assistance. She arrived at Kabasa displacement camp in Doolow on 27 November, having travelled nearly 170 km. “I am a grandmother,” she said. “We came from Let Makti village in Waajid because we had nothing to eat. The rains we relied on for our farm failed for more than a year and we had no livestock to sustain us. We arrived here with nothing; we are seeking help.”

Livestock, the main livelihood asset for pastoralists, is increasingly at risk; authorities estimate that over 2 million head are threatened by drought. At Doolow livestock market, business has slackened. “People are only bringing the healthiest livestock; no one buys skinny ones,” said one trader. “Prices have fallen by about 50 per cent; a goat that sold for $70 now goes for $30 to $35. If this continues, quality livestock will disappear from the market.”

Authorities are appealing for urgent assistance to avert a possible collapse of pastoral and farming livelihoods, and preventable loss of lives. The coming four months, they warn, will be decisive because the next rains are not expected until April 2026. Already, in Middle Juba, tensions are reported between communities over limited grazing and water resources.

Humanitarians are mobilising to respond: mapping supply stocks, visiting field locations to assess the severity of the situation, and reviewing available resources for early action. However, they are significantly constrained by funding shortfalls. As of 2 December, the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is only received 24 per cent funded.