Somalia is on the brink of famine. The current drought is the longest and most severe in Somalia’s history. With an estimated 8.25 million people, nearly half of Somalia’s population, in need of immediate lifesaving assistance – are things getting worse for the people of Somalia?
What is happening in Somalia?
Since the 1990s, Somalia has been affected by regular disasters such as floods, drought, conflict, and epidemic outbreaks. In recent years, climate-related shocks, mainly drought and flooding, have increased in frequency and intensity, exacerbating humanitarian needs and undermining the country’s resilience.
Somalia in numbers
In 2023, an estimated 8.25 million people, nearly half of Somalia’s population, will need immediate lifesaving assistance. Between April and June 2023, amid an anticipated reduction in funding for humanitarian assistance in crucial sectors, 8.3 million people will likely experience high levels of acute food insecurity, including more than 727,000 who are likely to face Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) conditions.
- Fewer than a third of people living in drought-affected areas are estimated to have access to essential health care.
- Disease outbreaks including cholera and measles are on the rise compared to recent years.
- Pastoralists are facing the possible irreversible loss of their livelihoods. Since mid-2021, Somalia has recorded over 3 million livestock deaths due to drought.
- In 2022, conflict intensified again, displacing almost 600,000 people by the end of November.
- The number of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has reached more than three million, one of the largest IDP populations in the world.
- Hunger in Somalia is forcing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes Photo: Trócaire
- Hunger in Somalia is forcing hundreds of thousands of people from their homes Photo: Trócaire
- Are things getting worse for the people of Somalia?
- The country is currently facing a rapidly unfolding humanitarian catastrophe, driven by the longest and most severe drought seen in at least 40 years. It is expected to continue well into 2023.
The current extreme, widespread, and persistent multi-season drought is unprecedented, and follows the historic failure of three consecutive rainy seasons. The current drought has surpassed the 2010/2011 and 2016/2017 droughts in terms of duration and severity, and is driving growing humanitarian needs.
There will likely be a sixth season of below-average rainfall from March to June 2023.
In addition to the famine projection in the Bay region and Mogadishu, several areas in central and southern Somalia have an increased Risk of Famine between April and June 2023 if the 2023 season rainfall turns out to be poorer than currently predicted and humanitarian assistance is not scaled up to reach the country’s most vulnerable populations.
How is conflict affecting the people of Somalia?
Critically, climate change drives conflict in Somalia, and the struggle for dwindling resources between communities. New and protracted armed conflicts, insecurity and erratic weather have continued to push Somali civilians away from their homes and into overcrowded towns and cities.
Consequently, the number of IDPs has reached more than three million, one of the largest IDP populations in the world. The recent escalation of conflict has significant humanitarian consequences, including increased displacement and implications on humanitarian access.
“It is catastrophic. We’ve just about avoided famine being declared in 2022, but the worst is still to come. There are millions and millions of people on the edge of starvation,” Mr Healy said.
In Somalia, Trócaire has been providing lifesaving health services for the past 30 years in the Gedo region, which is about the size of Ireland.
“I was in Dolow Hospital in Gedo a number of months ago, and I noticed a child come in who was very distressed. I got the doctor, but I watched that child die and I will never forget it. It is completely unacceptable that a baby would die of starvation, and that’s simply what it was. That day will stay with me for as long as I live,” Mr Healy said.
Families struggling to survive
This year, Trócaire’s Lenten Appeal focuses on the people of Somalia and tells the story of one Somali family who are struggling to survive.
After their crops failed and the last of their goats died, their only option was to leave or stay and face starvation and death. After walking for three days, they arrived at a camp for displaced people with nothing but the clothes on their backs.
Ambiyo was pregnant when she arrived at the camp and when she was giving birth, she experienced serious complications. She was taken to the nearby health centre run by Trόcaire where she and the baby received life-saving treatment.
The people of Ireland supporting Somalia in its “darkest hour”
Mr Healy thanked the people of Ireland for their continued support for the people of Somalia.
“My deepest thanks to the people of Ireland for your solidarity, your compassion, and your support for the people of Somalia who are at their darkest hour.
“Your donations to Trócaire have enabled us to scale up our response so that the most vulnerable, especially small children and babies, their lives are saved and they have some sort of a future. Thank you for your support. It’s deeply appreciated, and we will use every euro to the best of our ability, so that lives are saved and dignity is insured.”
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Sources: ReliefWeb
_____________________________________________________________________________________Xafiiska Wararka Qaranimo Online | Mogadishu, Somalia
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