---
title: "NRC in Somalia"
description: "Three decades of conflict – combined with severe droughts and food shortages – mean that Somalia is home to a huge population of displaced people and one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. We’re working across the country, especially in hard-to-reach areas – helping families get the food, water, shelter and support they so urgently need."
url: "https://www.nrc.no/countries/africa/somalia"
language: "en"
published: "2025-03-20T14:48:24Z"
modified: "2025-05-07T08:56:44Z"
---

# NRC in Somalia

Lul Hassan, a 56-year-old mother of seven children in Dofil displacement camp, central Somalia. Photo: Abdulkadir Mohamed/NRC

Three decades of conflict – combined with severe droughts and food shortages – mean that Somalia is home to a huge population of displaced people and one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.

Published 20. Mar 2025 Updated 07. May 2025

[Somalia](https://www.nrc.no/themes?categoryId=102)

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is working across the country, especially in hard-to-reach areas – helping families get the food, water, shelter and support they so urgently need.

## What’s happening in Somalia?

The civil war in Somalia was one of Africa’s longest running conflicts. It has shattered lives, destroyed infrastructure and displaced families across the region.

At the same time, the country is facing more frequent and longer-lasting droughts. These are becoming more severe due to climate change, leading to the desertification of this once-fertile agricultural land. Lack of rainfall means that crops can’t grow, harvests fail and livestock perish. Malnutrition is rife, people are starving and famine is an ongoing threat.

Faced with such a bleak situation, many families flee their homes in desperation – hoping to make better lives for themselves elsewhere in Somalia. However, their efforts are often unsuccessful, and they end up living in even more precarious circumstances.

## Our response

We’re working with our partners in the following areas:

- **Water, sanitation and hygiene** – providing handwashing stations and proper sanitation facilities, promoting good hygiene and delivering hygiene kits to families in camps.
- **Shelter and settlements** – distributing emergency shelter kits, constructing more permanent homes and training people in carpentry and building maintenance.
- **Livelihoods and food security** – providing cash assistance and start-up grants, as well as seeds, tools and small livestock.
- **Education** – distributing teaching materials, providing catch-up classes and life skills training, and building temporary learning centres in camps.
- **Protection from violence** – managing safety issues in camps and host communities, and responding to emergencies like flooding and fires.
- **Information, counselling and legal assistance** – helping people obtain vital legal documentation and claim their housing, land and property rights.

[Download the factsheet for NRC in Somalia](https://www.nrc.no/resources/fact-sheets/nrc-somalia--fact-sheet)

## Our operations

**NRC office established:** 2004

**Areas of operation:** Mogadishu, Kismayo, Baidoa, Hargeisa, Burao, Jowhar, Bossaso, Qardho, Galkayo, Garowe, Dhusamareb, Dollow, Luuq, Wajid, Hudur, Bardere

**Country Director:** Mohamed Abdi

**Contact:** [SO.main@nrc.no](mailto:SO.main@nrc.no)

## Our impact

In 2025, we assisted 748,618 people through our programmes in Somalia:

- 37,118

  Education
- 66,279

  Livelihoods and food security
- 58,866

  Shelter and settlements
- 43,898

  Protection from violence
- 108,684

  Information, counselling and legal assistance
- 157,122

  Water, sanitation and hygiene
- 355,779

  Multi-purpose cash assistance

***Note:** some people received more than one type of assistance.*

### News and stories

Press release

## [Hunger crisis threatens Somalia as floods come on top of drought and conflict](https://www.nrc.no/news/2026/hunger-crisis-threatens-somalia-as-floods-come-on-top-of-drought-and-conflict)

27. Aug 2026 | Somalia

## [How the Middle East crisis is deepening hunger in Somalia](https://www.nrc.no/feature/2026/how-the-middle-east-crisis-is-deepening-hunger-in-somalia)

27. May 2026 | Feature

Press release

## [Crisis hunger levels worsen in Somalia](https://www.nrc.no/news/2026/crisis-hunger-levels-worsen-in-somalia)

14. May 2026 | Somalia

[More news and stories](https://www.nrc.no/search?searchCategories=123,125,172,335,102&searchMethod=1)

### Publications

## [BRCiS III Project Resilience Measurement Final Reports (Baseline and Endline)](https://www.nrc.no/resources/reports/brcis-iii)

19. Sep 2026 | Somalia

## [Rehabilitating Isha Road in Baidoa](https://www.nrc.no/feature/rehabilitating-isha-road-in-baidoa)

28. Aug 2026 | Report

## [From waste to biogas to cleaner air in Bardhere](https://www.nrc.no/feature/biogas-pilot-in-bardhere)

28. Aug 2026 | Report

[More publications](https://www.nrc.no/search?searchCategories=124,131,132,175,178,314,315,102&searchMethod=1)

**Region:** East Africa  
**Population:** 19.65 million  
**Total displaced:** 4.4 million  
**Refugees hosted:** 46,669

[![BRCiS-logo.png](https://www.nrc.no/globalassets/images/thematic/brcis/brcis-logo.png)](https://www.nrc.no/what-we-do/brcis-consortium---building-resilient-communities-in-somalia)