In 2023, disasters took a major toll on Somalia. Torrential rains and flooding devastated over two million people across various regions – more than 100 people died and around 750,000 people were forced to flee their homes. These calamities unfolded just six months after a historic drought impacted 7.8 million people, exacerbating already dire levels of food insecurity.
Food aid offers a lifeline for climate change-affected families in Somalia
Among the hardest-hit areas was the Galgadud region. Here, rural communities have been blighted by armed conflict, alongside the severe drought. Many in the region lost their livestock and others were driven from their homes by violence, leading to massive displacement.
Thousands of people made long journeys in search of food and water. Some families walked for days in unforgiving conditions with nothing to eat.
Among the hardest-hit areas was the Galgadud region. Here, rural communities have been blighted by armed conflict, alongside the severe drought. Many in the region lost their livestock and others were driven from their homes by violence, leading to massive displacement.
Thousands of people made long journeys in search of food and water. Some families walked for days in unforgiving conditions with nothing to eat.
Nasteha Abdi, a mother of five children, is one of the local residents affected by the crisis. Having lost all her livestock during the drought, she and her family currently live in a small house in the rural village of Gadon in Galgadud.
“We had no food to eat, we lost everything,” says Nasteha. “We suffered a lot. I can still recall those horrible days. I watched helplessly as all our livestock, once our wealth and sustenance, fell one by one due to the lack of water and green pasture.”
“The pain of hunger was as intense as the scorching sun above us, and it hurt me deeply as a mother to look into my children’s eyes, knowing I had nothing to offer them,” she continues. “Each of them was battling the silent cries of their empty stomachs.”
How we are responding to the situation
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has provided assistance to over 3,021 drought-affected families in Dhusamareb District in response to the urgent humanitarian situation. With the support of the World Food Programme (WFP) we have distributed food and cash transfers to a number of communities, like Gadon, that have been severely impacted by drought.
This intervention was designed to respond to the immediate needs of drought- and conflict-affected people in the region. It aimed to help communities avoid resorting to negative coping mechanisms, such as reducing their food intake, skipping meals, separating from their partners and sending their children to work.
“I received a food package containing 72kg of maize, 7.2kg of cowpeas and 3.96 litres of cooking oil,” says Nasteha. “I really needed this. Before I received the food parcel, we were in a really difficult situation and I didn’t have anything to feed my children. But now we have food on our table.”
“This food is more than just a meal, it’s a lifeline for us,” she adds.
Indeed, each and every parcel represents a promise of survival. As families gather around shared meals, they celebrate a step towards recovery – or at least a moment in which the youngest and most vulnerable do not have to suffer the harshest effects of food insecurity.
Still, as communities continue to grapple with the unyielding grip of drought, thousands of families are watching their livelihoods crumble under the harsh conditions of the climate-induced crisis.
Looking ahead
Prolonged armed conflict, drought, food insecurity, and extreme flooding have left millions of people in Somalia in dire need of humanitarian assistance. To mitigate this crisis, it is crucial to empower communities to become more self-reliant and reduce their dependence on aid.
This can be achieved through initiatives that focus on sustainable development, such as improving access to education, promoting agricultural resilience, and supporting small-scale businesses. Strengthening local governance and community-based organisations will also enhance the capacity of communities to address their own needs. By investing in these long-term solutions, resilience can be fostered by enabling Somali communities to build a more stable and prosperous future.
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