Conflict, Insecurity and Drought Displace Nearly 75,000 People in Somalia in Three Months

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: Conflict, insecurity and drought triggered 74,932 recorded internal displacement movements in Somalia between July and September 2026, according to a new report by the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR.

The data was collected by the Protection and Solutions Monitoring Network (PSMN), a collaborative initiative involving UNHCR, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and local organisations. The figure represents recorded displacement movements and should not be interpreted as a definitive count of all people displaced across the country.

Conflict and insecurity accounted for more than half of the recorded displacement movements during the third quarter of the year, highlighting the continued impact of violence and instability on civilian populations.

Baidoa was the largest reported area of origin for displaced people, with nearly 19,000 people recorded as leaving the town for destinations including Qansaxdheere, Mogadishu, Diinsoor and other locations.

Baidoa and Afgooye together accounted for 44% of the recorded movements away from people’s places of origin. Meanwhile, Afgooye, Qansaxdheere, Bosaso and Banadir received 41% of the recorded displacement movements, placing additional pressure on communities hosting people fleeing conflict and environmental hardship.

Drought-related displacement also increased significantly, with 20,387 movements recorded between July and September 2026, compared with 11,430 during the same period last year.

The figures represent a 78% increase in drought-related displacement, even as the overall number of recorded displacement movements during the quarter remained below the level reported in 2025.

Kismayo received the largest number of people displaced by drought, followed by Erigavo, Qandala, Ainabo and Bosaso.

Displaced families face growing humanitarian needs, including access to clean water, food, shelter, healthcare and livelihood support, as drought continues to undermine their ability to sustain themselves.

Women and children accounted for 83% of the recorded displaced population, underscoring their vulnerability to the effects of conflict, insecurity and climate-related shocks.

The report also highlighted child protection risks in the Hiiraan region, alongside challenges specifically affecting women and girls in Banadir and Togdheer.

The combination of conflict and drought is placing additional pressure on towns and settlements receiving displaced families, many of which already face limited resources and inadequate services.

UNHCR has called for sustained efforts to provide shelter, water, sanitation, protection services and cash assistance to families living in areas most severely affected by drought and insecurity.

The latest figures underline the overlapping humanitarian pressures facing Somalia, where conflict and climate-related shocks continue to force people from their homes while increasing demands on already stretched host communities.