Somalia

DRC has been operational in Somalia since 1998 and is currently among the largest international non-governmental organisations (INGOs) in the country, with country-wide programmes implemented through six main offices and nine sub-offices in South Central Somalia, Somaliland, Puntland and Galmudug regions. Somalia is vulnerable to extreme weather patterns and remains in a protection crisis where armed conflict, insecurity and natural disasters trigger the displacement of thousands of people.

Current situation

Somalia currently faces an extreme and persistent drought, affecting up to 90 percent of its territory and 7.1 million people. The drought, product of four consecutive failed rainy seasons, has caused 918,200 people to be displaced within the country in search of water, food and pasture in 2022, but also led at least 20,000 people to cross into Kenya and 15,000 into Ethiopia.

The rate of internal displacement due to drought increased by 230 percent in June 2022, predominantly affecting women and children. Taking desperate measures to survive, some traverse dangerous distances controlled by armed groups – not to mention that their displacement can also trigger inter-communal conflict over resources.

The drought is having a particularly severe impact on women and children, increasing the risk of gender-based violence and child marriage, while hindering children’s access to education.

Core sectors Somalia

Protection

Economic Recovery

Humanitarian Disarmament and Peacebuilding

Shelter and Settlements

Camp Coordination and Camp Management

Displacement trends

Source: | DRC Foresight

NewsAll News

21 Jun 2023

Press Release: In 2022 DRC reached more than 19 million people with crucial assistance

24 Apr 2023

Somalia: DRC provides integrated emergency support to families displaced by conflict in Laascaanood

24 Apr 2023

‘‘My eye vision is no longer blurry,’’- the story of Batula, an IDP in Mogadishu

05 Apr 2023

Stories from the field: Interview with Gender Based Violence Sub-Sector Coordinator deployed to Mogadishu

06 Mar 2023

Women at the forefront to protect their livelihoods in Somalia

28 Feb 2023

Anticipatory action triggered to respond to drought in Somalia

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DocumentsAll Documents

Somalia: Integrated First Line Response (IFLR) – Operationalization Status Report #3, June & July 2023

31 Jul 2023

Somalia Flash Report #3 / Beletweyne flooding: one month later, needs remain high

30 Jun 2023

Flash Report: Acute Watery Diarrhea (AWD) outbreak in Belet Hawa

19 Jun 2023

Integrated First Line Response (IFLR) – Operationalization Status Report #2

31 May 2023

Joint statement - NGOs call out climate injustice and urge global donors to fully fund the humanitarian response in the Horn of Africa now

22 May 2023

Somalia Flash Report #2 / Beletweyne Flooding May 2023

22 May 2023

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Why we are there

DRC is present in Somalia to provide lifesaving emergency services during what is likely to be the most dramatic food insecurity situation of the 21^st century.

DRC’s ability to access hard-to-reach areas and marginalised communities that have been excluded from humanitarian assistance is critical to ensure that the humanitarian response does not repeat the mistakes of the 2011/12 famine, which led to the death of over 260,000 people.

What we do

DRC has established a strong presence as an emergency drought response actor in Somalia, piloting a Rapid Response Mechanism in February 2022.

DRC has declared a Priority Emergency in the country to facilitate the scale-up of the emergency response and will focus on providing emergency, life-saving assistance in Mogadishu, Galkacyo, Dolow, Baidoa and Beletweyne.

DRC is implementing a phased, integrated approach, including multi-purpose cash assistance, water, sanitation and hygiene support, emergency shelter and non-food items and site management coordination.

The response is sequenced, with linkages to existing resilience programming whenever possible, and reaching those in remote/insecure locations in order to mitigate the risk of displacement.