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What can I do to help people affected by the drought in Somalia?
More than 7.1 million people in Somalia are fighting to survive, recover and rebuild their lives from the worst drought Somalia has seen in 40 years. The International Organization for Migration (IOM), which has had a presence in the country since 2006, is providing water, sanitation, health, nutrition, and shelter support to displaced people, migrants and vulnerable communities.
Over 1 million people have been displaced due to crisis. While IOM and aid partners are actively providing life-saving assistance, the needs are outpacing the capacity to respond due to limited resources and overwhelming needs. Food, water, health care and shelter remain the most immediate needs.
Here are three things you can do to help.
DONATE
The most effective way to help people facing extreme drought is to donate to IOM or other organizations doing vital work on the ground.
Since the start of the hunger and water crises, IOM has reached nearly half a million displaced persons, migrants and agro-pastoralist communities with much needed aid, including water, sanitation, health and nutrition services. Families are also receiving cash to rebuild their lives and have dignity of choice.
IOM is asking for USD 105 million to reach over 2.5 million people across Somalia by early 2024. The donations will help IOM continue supporting thousands of women, men and children in the most affected areas.
If you’re feeling inspired and want to get other people involved, you can also mobilize people to support active fundraising actions organized by Somalia communities to build schools, water and health infrastructure. Find more through Somali fundraising platform Sokaab.
GET INFORMED
Learn as much as you can about the drought and show solidarity with populations living on the frontlines of the climate emergency. Studies have shown that an act as simple as talking to your friends and family about a climate or humanitarian crisis can jumpstart a feedback loop leading to greater awareness and concern.
Think about your daily lifestyle and what you consume. Although Somalia might be geographically far from you, the world is interconnected and all of us share the same natural resources. Be courteous with how you use them.
Share information from trusted sources on social media and inform other people. This can create opportunities for movements to take shape, go further and demand action.
DEMAND CLIMATE ACTION
Somalia is one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change. But while Somalia’s greenhouse gas emissions are extremely low, its population suffers some of the worst consequences of the climate crisis. Climate conditions are forcing communities to migrate, and the scarcity of resources is driving conflict over water, land and food.
This demands urgent action from all of us.
According to the recently published IPCC Report, we must limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century if we want to prevent the worst outcomes and reduce the intensity and frequency of the extreme weather events.
Demanding climate justice and holding your political representatives to account on their climate promises, can make the difference in the lives of those living on the frontlines of the climate emergency.
You can write to your local representative, speak up on social media, join a climate organization and use the ballot box to instigate action. The steps that governments and the private sector will take to tackle the climate crisis will be critical to the future of the planet and its people.