As of 2021, following four consecutive failed rainy seasons, over 2.3 million people are facing food shortages in Somalia. Over 80% of the country is suffering a severe drought. In affected areas up to 20% of the population have experienced shortages of water, food and pasture, which have displaced an estimated 100,000 people.

Causes

Climate change is a major cause with climate related hazards on the increase.[1]

Impact

  • Most agricultural areas are expected to suffer crop failure, and there is little prospect of cereal production during the Deyr season.
  • Particularly in central regions and in Puntland, communities are relying on boreholes as most shallow wells and berkads have dried up,
  • The water levels of Shabelle and Juba rivers are low and expected to decrease.[2][3]

Humanitarian situation

71% of people in Somalia are living beneath the poverty threshold. The number of people requiring assistance is predicted to rise in 2022 to about 7.7 million from 5.9 million.[4] By December 2021 a similar situation to the 2017 Somali drought is expected.[2]

As of November 2021;[5]

  • 5.9M are in need of humanitarian assistance.
  • 3.5M people are facing acute food insecurity
  • 2.9M displaced people
  • 1.2M of children are malnourished

Calls for response

In November 2021, UN resident and humanitarian coordinator for Somalia, Adam Abdelmoula, called for urgent action,[6] as the United Nations warned that the situation may become extreme by April 2022.[1]

In November 2021 the Somali Humanitarian Response Plan for 2021 is 66% funded.[7]

Response

The Somali Humanitarian Fund has allocated $6 million and the UN Emergency Rosponse Fund has allocated $8 million toward relief efforts.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Worsening drought affects 2.3 million people in Somalia". UN News. 2021-11-19. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  2. 1 2 "Somalia drought update 18 November 2021 - Somalia". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  3. ↑ "Egypt explores water projects with Somalia - Al-Monitor: The Pulse of the Middle East". www.al-monitor.com. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  4. 1 2 "Somalia: Joint statement on worsening drought [EN/SO] - Somalia". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  5. ↑ "Somalia Humanitarian Bulletin, October 2021 - Somalia". ReliefWeb. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  6. ↑ "UN sounds alarm on Somalia's 'rapidly worsening' drought". www.aljazeera.com. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
  7. ↑ "Worsening drought affects 2.3 million people in Somalia". Saudigazette. 2021-11-20. Retrieved 2021-11-20.
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