2.9 million internally displaced in Somalia in 2023, UN report says
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that the complex humanitarian crisis in Somalia intensified in 2023, with approximately 2.9 million people internally displaced due to a combination of flooding, conflict, insecurity, and drought.
Flooding was the leading cause, responsible for 57 per cent of these displacements, while conflict and drought accounted for 25 and 18 per cent, respectively. The UNHCR’s latest operational report highlights the significant challenges in Somalia.
Access to many areas remains limited due to ongoing conflict and insecurity. The situation in Somalia is further complicated by long-standing conflict, political tensions, clan dynamics, and the effects of climate change.
The Somalia Disaster Management Agency reported that the October-December 2023 rainy season had a substantial impact, affecting over 2.4 million people and displacing more than one million.
The Horn of Africa is one of the regions most vulnerable to climate change, and extreme weather events are occurring with increased frequency and intensity.
The region is emerging from the worst drought in four decades after multiple failed rainy seasons that left millions of people in need and devastated crops and livestock.
Humanitarian groups have warned that the situation is only likely to worsen and called for urgent global intervention as El Nino is expected to last until at least April 2024.
