A new study has revealed that Somalia’s severe drought, which has been ongoing since 2022, has led to at least 71,000 excess deaths, far beyond the number expected in a typical year. The findings, commissioned by the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), and Somalia’s Ministry of Health, highlight the devastating effects of the drought that has gripped the Horn of Africa.
Devastating Impact on Vulnerable Populations
The study, covering the period between January 2022 and June 2024, found that 40% of the deaths were children under the age of 5. Dr. Najib Isse Dirie, the deputy director for research at Mogadishu’s SIMAD University, which contributed to the study, explained that the significant loss of life was linked to five consecutive failed rainy seasons. This prolonged drought has pushed parts of Somalia to the brink of famine, severely impacting food and water availability.
“During the drought and after, the people experienced a significant ‘drought-related excess’ in different cases,”
said Dr. Dirie.
“Living in overcrowded IDP camps, the loss of their livelihoods, and the lack of rainfall devastated their crops and left them vulnerable.”
Urgent Need for Continued Support
Speaking at the launch of the report in Mogadishu, Dr. Renee van De Weerdt Renhilde, WHO’s representative to Somalia, stressed the dire situation. “The findings of this study highlight the profound impact that the 2022–2024 drought has had on the lives of the Somali people,” she said. “This is a stark reminder of the urgent need for continued support and resilience-building efforts in Somalia.”
Dr. Renhilde also emphasized the importance of strengthening Somalia’s health emergency systems to better respond to future crises and ensure continued care for those in need. WHO is working closely with the Somali government and partners to address the challenges posed by such disasters.
Somalia’s Plans for the Future
Somalia’s Health Minister, Dr. Ali Hadji Adam Abubakar, also spoke at the event, outlining plans to minimize the impact of future droughts. The Ministry will prioritize vulnerable children and women, aiming to build a stronger health system to support these groups in times of crisis.
“For my ministry, our focus is on creating a robust health system as the cornerstone of a healthy and thriving Somali society,” Dr. Abubakar said.
Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis
As the country grapples with the aftermath of this devastating drought, the United Nations has launched an appeal for $1.43 billion to support Somalia’s humanitarian needs in 2025. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports that 6 million people in Somalia will require humanitarian assistance this year, as the country faces a complex, ongoing crisis exacerbated by conflict, insecurity, disease outbreaks, and the climatic shocks caused by drought and floods.
In a statement, the U.N. stressed that Somalia continues to suffer from a protracted humanitarian crisis, with no end in sight unless immediate action is taken.
Comparison to 2011 Famine
The situation in Somalia echoes the famine of 2011, which claimed over a quarter-million lives. While the scale of the current crisis is not yet as catastrophic, the ongoing drought and its wide-reaching consequences are a stark reminder of the vulnerability of the population to climate-related disasters.
A Collaborative Effort
The study, conducted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Imperial College London, and Somalia’s SIMAD University, is a collaborative effort to better understand the impacts of the drought and guide international and local interventions moving forward.
As the country faces continuing challenges, experts agree that only coordinated global efforts can help mitigate the impact of future droughts and improve Somalia’s resilience to such environmental shocks.
Source: VOA
