Somalia Seeks Stronger Disaster Response with IOM Displacement Tracking System

GOOBJOOG NEWS | NAIROBI: Somalia is intensifying efforts to improve disaster preparedness and climate resilience by expanding its use of the Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM), a system developed by the International Organization for Migration (IOM) to monitor population movement in crisis situations.

At a high-level meeting in Nairobi on Wednesday, Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) Commissioner Mahmoud Moalim Abdulle led discussions with senior Somali officials, technical experts, and international partners on how to better integrate the DTM into national early warning systems.

“We are witnessing increasingly severe and frequent climate shocks, droughts, floods, and mass displacement,” said Moalim. “The DTM offers us real-time, evidence-based data to act early, respond effectively, and plan for long-term resilience.”

The DTM has been in use across Somalia to monitor internal displacement caused by conflict and environmental shocks.

Officials at the meeting reviewed how to align the system with Somalia’s national disaster response strategies, improve data sharing with local authorities, and enhance training for Somali institutions in data analysis.

IOM Somalia reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Somalia’s disaster management goals, emphasizing the importance of adaptable, data-driven tools in addressing both humanitarian emergencies and long-term development challenges.

The Nairobi meeting is part of broader cooperation between Somalia and its international partners as the country faces intensifying climate risks.

Experts noted that integrating the DTM more deeply into policy planning could support implementation of Somalia’s National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy.

Somalia remains one of the countries most affected by climate-driven displacement, with millions forced to move in recent years.

Authorities say stronger data systems like the DTM are essential to protecting vulnerable communities and building a more resilient future.