Drought and high food prices create a perfect storm in southern Somalia

In southern Somalia, across Baidoa and Dollow a combination of drought and high food prices are creating a perfect storm
Sunday, July 10, 2022

 

Key highlights:

  • As of 30 June, the severe drought has affected more than 7 million people, an increase from 6.1 million in May, with over 800,000 people internally displaced. The majority have moved from drought-stricken rural areas to urban places and are living in makeshift settlements for the displaced, to seek assistance. 
  • The scale of need is far outstripping the current assistance being provided, driven by daily new arrivals into makeshift settlements for displaced families. 
  • According to an early warning report, eight areas are facing a heightened risk of localized famine if widespread crop and livestock production fails, prices of commodities continue to rise, and humanitarian assistance is unable to reach the most vulnerable people.
  • Waterborne diseases such as Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) and also communicable diseases are on the increase, particularly for displaced populations due to limited access to safe water, poor sanitation and hygiene conditions.
  • The UN has warned that nearly 386,000 Somali children could be severely malnourished by the end of 2022 if emergency aid is not delivered urgently.

 

A drought-fueled internal displacement crisis:
A drought-fueled internal displacement crisis: This makeshift settlement for displaced persons in Dollow, southern #Somalia hosted 546 families in April. Due to the worsening drought conditions, nearly 3,000 families live here now. As of early July, over 800,000 people have been displaced due to the drought.

 

Pastoralists are desperately trying to keep their livestock alive amidst worsening drought conditions.
Pastoralists are desperately trying to keep their livestock alive as drought worsens. Abdullahi Arab in Doolow, southern Somalia, has lost nearly all his livestock to the drought. He is desperately trying to keep his last remaining animals alive but there is no pasture in sight. To add to his worries, he can barely afford the high cost of animal feed at the market. A 50-kilogram bag of fodder sells for US$10. What’s more, Abdullah cannot sell his camels because no one will buy them in that poor condition.

 

Abdullahi Arab in Doolow, southern Somalia, has lost nearly all his camels and goats to the drought.
Abdullahi Arab in Doolow, southern Somalia, has lost nearly all his camels and goats to the drought. He is desperately trying to keep his last remaining animals alive but there is no pasture in sight. He is urging people across the world to come together to help Somali people survive this drought.

 

A little girl (pictured) in Doolow has suspected case of measles and waiting to be referred to the hospital for further treatment.
A little girl (pictured) in Doolow has a suspected case of measles and is waiting to be referred to the hospital for further treatment. World Vision staff on the ground are witnessing an increase in waterborne and communicable diseases, particularly in settlements for displaced populations. This is driven by limited access to water, poor sanitation and hygiene conditions and overcrowding.

 

Due to the prolonged drought people lost their livelihoods and forced to seek survival
Due to the prolonged drought, people have lost their livelihoods and are forced to seek assistance in makeshift settlements, such as this one in Doolow, southern Somalia. But life here is still difficult. People can’t find work to afford food and other basic needs. (From left: 70-year-old Habiba, 60-year-old Halima and 48-year-old Fadum Isaack).

 

Displaced by the drought. Pictured, a 22-year-old woman prepares a meal in the open air
Displaced by the drought. A 22-year-old woman prepares a meal in the open air, in this makeshift settlement for displaced people in Doolow, southern Somalia.

 

Widowed, then forced to leave their homes after losing all their livestock
Widowed, then forced to leave their homes after losing all their livestock because of the drought. Forty-year-old Elmiyo Isaack now lives with her eight children, with another one on the way, in this makeshift settlement for the displaced in Doolow, southern Somalia.

 

Children across Somalia are facing unimaginable hardships as the drought prolongs.
Children across Somalia are facing unimaginable hardships as the drought continues. Apart from being displaced by the drought, children are facing extreme hunger and some have had to find work in order to meet their families’ food needs. Suldana, 15, lives in a makeshift settlement for displaced people in Doolow, southern Somalia. They moved here with the hope of finding humanitarian assistance after losing all their livestock to the drought. Daily, Suldan has to go to Doolow town to work for food, mostly washing dishes, where she earns 50 Somali Birs (about US$1) to help the family buy food. They only eat one meal a day.

 

Fatumo Salao in her 70s is the sole caregiver to her grandchildren including 5-months-old Afifo
Fatumo Salao, aged in her 70s, is the sole caregiver to her grandchildren. She's pictured carrying 5-months-old Afifo, whose mother died a few weeks after birth. They live in a crowded Busley settlement for displaced people in Baidoa town, having been forced to uproot their lives due to the drought.

 

Displaced because of the drought: Faadumo and some of her children are new residents in this makeshift settlement
Displaced because of the drought: Faadumo and some of her children recently arrived at this makeshift settlement for the displaced in Baidoa, southern Somalia. She has been living here since April. She migrated from her rural home in Dinsor district, Bay region, after losing all her livestock, to come live here with the hope of receiving assistance.

 

The prolonged drought across Somalia has forced nearly 800,000 people from their homes- since 2021
The prolonged drought across Somalia has forced nearly 800,000 people from their homes since 2021 - as the situation worsens and livelihoods get wiped out. The majority has moved from the rural areas to urban places such as Baidoa town and living in makeshift settlements for the displaced, to seek assistance. In partnership with the World Food Programme, World Vision is providing food vouchers and assistance to help vulnerable households displaced by the drought. World Vision is scaling up its support to help thousands more people, but the scale of the need – driven by daily new arrivals – far outstrips current assistance.

 

The scale of need as a result of the prolonged drought across Somalia is far outstripping the current available funding and assistance.
The scale of need as a result of the prolonged drought across Somalia is far outstripping the current available funding and assistance. This is driven by the number of people arriving in makeshift settlements for the displaced on a daily basis. In partnership with the World Food Programme, World Vision is providing food vouchers and assistance to help vulnerable households displaced by the drought meet their food needs

 

Abdi brought his two-year-old Khadija and three-year-old Hassan both suffering from Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD).
Abdi brought his two-year-old Khadija and three-year-old Hassan both suffering from Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD). Waterborne diseases are on the increase especially in makeshift shelters for the displaced, driven by limited access to water, plus poor sanitation and hygiene conditions, and as a result, World Vision is witnessing more children being admitted with cases of Acute Watery Diarrhoea, which is also driving malnutrition in children. The UN has warned that nearly 386,000 children under five years old could be severely malnourished by the end of 2022.

 

Nadifo Yahye, when she brought her sick child to a centre where World Vision was conducting a medical outreach.
Nadifo Yahye, when she brought her sick child to a centre where World Vision was conducting a medical outreach. Because of drought and insecurity, she came to live in a makeshift settlement for the displaced in Baidoa. She has to painfully watch her children’s health condition get weaker due to lack of food and hunger. Her biggest worry is the thought of her children dying of starvation if the drought conditions continue to worsen and food prices remain high. World Vision is witnessing an increase in the number of malnutrition cases in children and the UN has warned that nearly 386,000 children under five years old could be severely malnourished by the end of 2022.

 

With high food prices on the market, vulnerable households who have lost their livelihoods to the drought can barely afford to purchase food.
With high food prices on the market, vulnerable households who have lost their livelihoods to the drought can barely afford to purchase food. As a last resort desperate attempt, mothers are being forced to resort to wild fruits and weeds to help their children manage the hunger pangs.

 

Scenes of worry and despair for children and their families who have been forced to flee their drought-stricken villages.
Scenes of worry and despair for children and their families who have been forced to flee their drought-stricken villages. They now live in a makeshift shelter for the displaced in Baidoa with the hope of receiving emergency assistance to survive the perfect storm of a climate-fueled drought aggravated by high food prices.

 

Scenes of worry and despair for children and their families who have been forced to flee their drought-stricken villages.
Scenes of worry and despair for children and their families who have been forced to flee their drought-stricken villages. They now live in a makeshift shelter in Baidoa with the hope of receiving emergency assistance.

 

Children bear the brunt of the drought
Children bear the brunt of the drought.

 

7-months-old Hamdi in Baidoa, is an example of how a perfect storm of a climate-fueled drought and high food prices is taking a toll on children as they increasingly experience hunger and become severely malnourished.
Seven-month-old Hamdi in Baidoa, is an example of how a perfect storm of a climate-fueled drought and high food prices is taking a toll on children as they increasingly experience hunger and become severely malnourished.

 

14 year-old Rahima looks after her seven-months old sister, Hamdi while her mother went to fend for food for the family.
14-year-old Rahima looks after her seven-month-old sister, Hamdi, while her mother went to fend for food for the family. Hamdi had just been screened at a World Vision clinic and found to be severely malnourished after she suffered bouts of Acute Watery Diarrhoea. Waterborne diseases are on the rise, especially in makeshift shelters for displaced families. It's driven by limited access to water, plus poor sanitation and hygiene conditions, which contributes to an increase of malnutrition cases. The UN has warned that nearly 386,000 children under five years old could be severely malnourished by the end of 2022.

 

Global Hunger Crisis Drought Acute Malnutrition Food Assistance and Hunger