Conflict, Climatic Shocks Displace Over 300,000 in Somalia in 7 Months: Charity

MOGADISHU, (Xinhua) — Ongoing conflict, clan violence, and climatic shocks, mainly flooding, have displaced 319,014 people in Somalia in the first seven months of 2024, a global charity said on Monday.

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC), which cited data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)-led Protection and Return Monitoring Network (PRMN), said armed conflict and insecurity have displaced approximately 149,000 people since January while 72,418 others have been affected by evictions.

“In July alone, increased inter-clan conflict and military operations resulted in the acute displacement of 80,932 people, further straining already limited humanitarian resources and worsening the crisis,” the charity said in its displacement update.

According to the NRC, the 2023 Deyr season (October to December) brought well above-average rainfall, leading to widespread flooding, particularly in the south.

Although the shift from drought to flood shocks has changed the immediate challenges, the prolonged effects of the multi-year drought continue to undermine pastoral livelihoods and agricultural yields, the NRC said.

The charity said erratic rainfall and flooding have compounded these challenges, damaging crops and livestock, heightening food insecurity, and increasing the risk of disease outbreaks due to deteriorating infrastructure and limited access to clean water.

According to the NRC, humanitarian access in Somalia is severely hindered by military operations, ongoing conflicts, bureaucratic delays, and environmental challenges.

It said evictions and flooding from the Gu (April to June) rains have further damaged infrastructure, worsening the crisis and necessitating urgent, coordinated response efforts.

The charity said uncertainty looms over potential challenges to humanitarian delivery as Somalia transitions from the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) operation to the new AU Support and Stabilization Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM).

“The drawdown of ATMIS forces, particularly in remote areas of south-central Somalia, raises concerns about access difficulties,” the NRC said, adding that these concerns are heightened by the upcoming November elections, which could bring additional instability.