Drought in Somalia

The impact of drought is spreading through the country as there is no rain forecast until April or May. Water is extremely scarce since the two major rivers have dried up. 

Lives destroyed

The roads are littered with livestock carcasses. When their animals die, the pastorialist farmers of this area often have no other way of making a living. The loss of livestock means they are unable to buy food and water.

A local elder in Galgadud said:

Look at this borehole. It was the most populated livestock area in the district and now can you see any sheep or goats? The animals are about 10 km away from this borehole and they are too weak to reach the water.

Gunfire

When the civil war broke out in January 1991, the sound of gunfire was a new phenomenon for Mogadishu’s residents. Now shelling and mortar fire are commonplace. An entire generation has never known life without conflict. Despite the violence, thousands of pastoralists are forced to camp in one of the most dangerous cities in the world. 

Saving lives

Concern is responding with life-saving emergency interventions to ensure the most vulnerable families receive water, food and other essential assistance. The conflict has made access to the worst affected areas difficult. Help is needed so that Somalis don’t fall further into poverty and can provide for themselves in the future. It is vital to build the resiliency of communities so they can respond to further crises.

As one pastorialist said: 

If we receive water in the grazing land our livestock will reach safely into coming raining season.