Attachments
Background
Somalia’s prolonged drought has escalated into a nationally declared emergency, significantly increasing humanitarian needs and pushing agro-pastoral communities into crisis. As water sources dry up, households are travelling long distances to access often unsafe water, worsening health conditions, food insecurity, and displacement risks. Humanitarian conditions are rapidly deteriorating in Lower Jubaland, Hiraan, Middle Shabelle, Mudug, Togdheer regions, and Sanaag, where many families are living in makeshift shelters or without adequate shelter, exposing them to harsh weather and protection risks. Women, children, older persons, and persons with disabilities are particularly vulnerable to violence, exploitation, and other protection concerns. Food insecurity and malnutrition remain severe, with many households eating once a day or less and livelihoods collapsing due to widespread livestock losses. The drought is severely affecting districts including Afmadow; Adale, Cadale, Buloburte, Matabaan, Jalalaqsi and Jowhar; several locations across Mudug; as well as Burao, Oodweyne, Ainabo, Oog, El-Afweyn and Garadag.
As of early March, the Protection and Solutions Monitoring Network (PSMN) partners documented approximately 29,904 households (around 180,000 individuals) newly displaced due to drought impacts across multiple regions. This includes 2,404 households in Afmadow, 10,500 households across Hiraan and Middle Shabelle regions, 1,100 households in Mudug, and 6,000 households across the Togdheer, Sanaag, and Sool regions while 1,084 households have fled to Gashamo in Ethiopia where it has been informed for the humanitarian response.
Displacement is driven by livestock loss, water scarcity, and collapsed grazing resources, forcing rural households toward urban centers. Vulnerable groups—including children, women, older persons, and persons with disabilities—face heightened protection risks, with 14,700 children and 317 persons with disabilities affected.
Despite the worsening drought, humanitarian assistance remains minimal. PSMN calls on partners and authorities to urgently scale up life-saving support, protection services, and community-based interventions.