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](/sites/default/files/styles/medium_landscape/public/2022-07/IMG_9081-min.jpg?itok=T7pIAXhz)
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:](/sites/default/files/inline-images/DJI_0043_0.jpg)
![Pastoralists are desperately trying to keep their livestock alive amidst worsening drought conditions.](/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_9319_2.jpg)
![Abdullahi Arab in Doolow, southern Somalia, has lost nearly all his camels and goats to the drought.](/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_9541.jpg)
![A little girl (pictured) in Doolow has suspected case of measles and waiting to be referred to the hospital for further treatment.](/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_8787.jpg)
![Due to the prolonged drought people lost their livelihoods and forced to seek survival](/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_8888.jpg)
![Displaced by the drought. Pictured, a 22-year-old woman prepares a meal in the open air](/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_8946_0.jpg)
![Widowed, then forced to leave their homes after losing all their livestock](/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_9014.jpg)
![Children across Somalia are facing unimaginable hardships as the drought prolongs.](/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_9644.jpg)
![Fatumo Salao in her 70s is the sole caregiver to her grandchildren including 5-months-old Afifo](/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_9847.jpg)
![Displaced because of the drought: Faadumo and some of her children are new residents in this makeshift settlement](/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_0284.jpg)
![The prolonged drought across Somalia has forced nearly 800,000 people from their homes- since 2021](/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_0155.jpg)
![The scale of need as a result of the prolonged drought across Somalia is far outstripping the current available funding and assistance.](/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_0095_0.jpg)
![Abdi brought his two-year-old Khadija and three-year-old Hassan both suffering from Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD).](/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_9477.jpg)
![Nadifo Yahye, when she brought her sick child to a centre where World Vision was conducting a medical outreach.](/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_9366_3.jpg)
![With high food prices on the market, vulnerable households who have lost their livelihoods to the drought can barely afford to purchase food.](/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_0412.jpg)
![Scenes of worry and despair for children and their families who have been forced to flee their drought-stricken villages.](/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_9351.jpg)
![Scenes of worry and despair for children and their families who have been forced to flee their drought-stricken villages.](/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_0377.jpg)
![Children bear the brunt of the drought](/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_9188.jpg)
![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.](/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_9166.jpg)
![14 year-old Rahima looks after her seven-months old sister, Hamdi while her mother went to fend for food for the family.](/sites/default/files/inline-images/IMG_9241.jpg)
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