Forced evictions, ongoing clan-based conflicts, and limited humanitarian services are intensifying Somalia’s humanitarian crisis, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups such as women, children, and internally displaced persons (IDPs), according to a joint report released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).
The report, covering Bosasso, Luuq, and South Galkacyo districts, highlights forced eviction as a primary protection risk, particularly severe in Bosasso, where nearly half (44%) of surveyed residents have experienced evictions. Such evictions often result in repeated displacements, with 74% of Bosasso’s IDPs displaced multiple times, further exacerbating vulnerability.
“Forced evictions not only disrupt lives but heighten risks for exploitation and gender-based violence, especially affecting women and children,” the report stated.
Conflict remains the leading driver of displacement across all surveyed districts, with nearly all respondents (98.7%) in Luuq citing violence as the main reason for leaving their homes. Tribal rivalries, competition for resources, and political instability were identified as primary sources of conflict, significantly impacting access to basic humanitarian services such as healthcare, education, and water.
In Luuq, disruptions in humanitarian aid due to conflicts were reported by 65% of respondents, indicating severe challenges in maintaining consistent aid delivery. Similarly, in Bosasso and South Galkacyo, many respondents linked local tensions to perceptions of unequal and biased aid distribution.
Women and girls face heightened risks, particularly from sexual violence and exploitation. The study found that 92% of respondents in Luuq identified women as the most vulnerable group. Children are also heavily affected, facing threats like child labour and early or forced marriages. In Bosasso, nearly 25% reported child labour as a significant issue.
While essential services like water and sanitation exist, barriers such as high costs, distance, and insecurity severely limit their accessibility. Specialized services, including gender-based violence response and psychosocial support, are critically underutilized, with less than 10% of respondents accessing these resources.
Community support systems, while essential, often lack the resources to provide sufficient protection. In Bosasso, about 72% of respondents rely on local leaders for safety, but many reported limited effectiveness due to resource constraints. In Luuq and South Galkacyo, informal protection strategies are even more fragmented, leaving significant protection gaps.
To address these issues, the report recommends strengthening community-based protection mechanisms, increasing accessibility to essential services for vulnerable groups, and ensuring transparent and equitable humanitarian aid distribution. Integrating peacebuilding and conflict-sensitive programming, particularly through youth livelihood initiatives, is critical to stabilizing affected communities.
“Addressing Somalia’s humanitarian crisis requires coordinated and transparent efforts among international organizations, local governments, and community leaders,” the report concludes, emphasizing the urgency of targeted interventions to protect vulnerable populations and promote lasting stability.
