How long will thousands of climate-displaced people in southern Somalia continue to be abandoned by their government and the international community, left to struggle without food, water, or protection?
Development Diaries reports that Amnesty International, in a new report, has revealed that Somali authorities and the international community have repeatedly failed to protect thousands of people from drought-affected communities in southern Somalia, exposing them to violations of their rights to food, water, family, health and life.
According to the report, which was based on interviews carried out between September 2024 and March 2025, 177 people were displaced into Dadaab Refugee Camp.
Between 2020 and 2023, persistent drought, worsened by climate change, forced families from their homes in southern Somalia to seek refuge in camps and across the border in Kenya.
The report shows that while the government declared the drought a national disaster in 2021, it failed to provide enough relief, leaving many without food, clean water, or health services.
Somalia’s health budget still stands at less than five percent of total government spending, far below the 15 percent target set by the Abuja Declaration, a commitment by African Union countries including Somalia to increase national health budgets.
The situation is made worse by the lack of early warning systems, poor infrastructure, and limited humanitarian assistance along travel routes.
Families walked hundreds of kilometres under harsh conditions, with many losing loved ones along the way. Some interviewees told Amnesty they had to sell their livestock or land to afford transport to safety.
These stories reveal a broader failure by authorities to plan, respond, and protect people whose lives are being destroyed by climate shocks and poverty.
At the heart of the problem is neglect and inequality. Southern Somalia’s marginalised communities are bearing the worst of the climate crisis, even though the country contributes almost nothing to global emissions.
Yet, the response from both Somali authorities and the international community has been slow and inadequate. This raises deep moral questions about climate justice and shared responsibility, especially for rich nations whose fossil fuel emissions drive global warming.
It is time for action, not sympathy. The Somali government must urgently develop and fund a national climate resilience plan that strengthens early warning systems, protects displaced persons, and ensures access to health and social services.
Also, international partners, including high-income countries, must step up support for adaptation and loss-and-damage funding.
Photo source: WFP
