Climate Change Impacts of Drought in Somalia
My local community in Somalia is undergoing climate change in a very severe way, particularly through the prolonged droughts, high temperatures, and unpredictable rainfall patterns.
One of the examples would be that the recurring droughts have led to a significant decrease in water supply in both rural and urban areas. Many shallow wells and berkads remain dry for months, thus, making the communities, especially pastoralists, to walk long distances for water. This situation not only increases water-related conflicts but also puts a heavy pressure on women and children.
The irregular rainfall has further caused the disruption of agricultural and livestock systems. Farmers are left in a dilemma on when to plant their crops while the lack of grazing leads to livestock deaths, thus, jeopardizing food security and income. Drought-like conditions have also caused malnutrition and displacement of especially the less fortunate families.
As a result, in cooperation with humanitarian organizations, communities and local authorities have set up early warning systems, water trucking, borehole rehabilitation, and drought awareness campaigns. Moreover, they are working on promoting climate resilient practices such as water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and drought-tolerant crops as a way to build up community resilience.