The effects of climate change have been brutal on Somalia, where drought cycles have become more frequent and severe. Somalia and Somaliland yet again are staring at the potential of another season of failed rains and if this happens, it will be the fourth consecutive season of poor rains.
By April 2022, an estimated 6 million people (nearly 40% of the population) were reported to be facing severe food insecurity due to the worsening drought conditions. Of these, 3.5 million are facing severe water shortages as water sources dry up.
It’s been reported that the drought has resulted in children and their families being displaced as they migrate from their homes in search of food, water, and pasture for livestock, livelihoods, and shelter, and this has more than doubled since January.
In Malaasle village, 11-year-old Asha and her family have not been spared. Most of their livestock died, and the remaining ones are extremely weak it might only be a matter of time before they succumb, due to the extremely dry weather conditions brought on by lack of rain.
Most residents here and across parts of Somalia are either pastoralists or agro-pastoralists crops or livestock are their lifeline, and often their only source of water is the rain.