Nearly 62,000 people have been displaced across five districts in Somalia since the beginning of 2026 due to worsening drought conditions, according to data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The situation highlights a sharp rise in climate-driven displacement, with drought now responsible for three out of every four new displacements in the country, marking a 22 per cent increase compared to last year. Even if the upcoming Gu rainy season brings normal or above-normal rainfall, projections suggest that an additional 125,000 people could be forced to leave their homes in the second quarter of 2026 if conditions do not improve.
The worst-affected areas include Baidoa, Dayniile, Kahda, Diinsoor and Doolow, where failed crops, depleted water sources and collapsing livelihoods are driving widespread hunger and forcing families to migrate in search of survival. These conditions have been worsened by below-average rainfall during the 2025 Deyr season and an exceptionally harsh dry spell, which together have severely reduced agricultural output and grazing conditions across large parts of Somalia.
Displacement is increasingly driven by pastoral and farming communities losing access to water and income sources, particularly as livestock deaths rise due to heat and drought stress. Many households are travelling long distances to reach water points, while the loss of livestock is weakening long-term resilience and deepening vulnerability to future shocks.
As displaced populations move toward urban centres in search of aid and basic services, pressure on already limited infrastructure is increasing. Many families are now settling in informal or underserved areas where access to shelter, clean water and sanitation is extremely limited, further compounding humanitarian risks.
Humanitarian responses are ongoing through rapid support mechanisms providing emergency shelter, water and essential relief supplies, but the scale of need is growing faster than available resources. Authorities and humanitarian agencies are urging urgent and sustained investment in drought resilience, water infrastructure and climate-adaptive livelihoods to prevent further large-scale displacement and worsening food insecurity across Somalia.
