Climate change-induced displacement in Hargeisa, Somaliland
The current drought in Somaliland has led to worsening food insecurity and the disappearance of pastures, contributing to the collapse of rural livelihoods. Over 60% of traditional water sources have dried up, exacerbating displacement.
The drought is primarily the result of below-average Gu rains between April and June. An assessment conducted by Islamic Relief found alarming levels of hunger and water shortages, a rise in malnutrition, and the death of up to 70% of livestock in some villages.
Many displaced people now living in Hargeisa and other urban centres have fled their homes due to the convergence of conflict and climate change, particularly recurrent drought following multiple failed rainy seasons. In 2022, the Horn of Africa experienced its longest and most severe drought on record, with five consecutive below-average rainy seasons. This crisis displaced an estimated 2.1 million people across Somalia, Somaliland, Kenya, and Ethiopia.
Somalia is among the fastest-urbanising countries in the world, with climate-change-related livelihood loss driving much of this growth. Hargeisa has become a major hub for urban displacement, with thousands of people settling in informal settlements. Research by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) indicates that urban internally displaced persons (IDPs) face distinct barriers to accessing humanitarian assistance. While formal refugee camps are identified by UN agencies, urban settlements receive aid far more inconsistently. Residents also struggle to access clean water, which often must be purchased.
As climate change intensifies, the frequency of recurrent drought is expected to increase, resulting in further protracted displacement. Many IDPs in Hargeisa are former pastoralists who lost their livestock to drought-induced hunger. They have since turned to the informal sector, relying on casual labour for survival, often in unregulated and precarious conditions.