Somalia/Somaliland
Somalis are some of the world’s most resilient and resourceful people, yet years of conflict and drought have left many people struggling to survive a humanitarian catastrophe.
A devastating drought
Successive failed rains across East Africa have badly affected Somalia where the United Nations officially declared famine in July 2011.
Some 4 million Somalis are in extreme need of immediate, life-saving assistance as a result of cumulative droughts, loss of livelihoods and insecurity.
Latest: Oxfam's response to the East Africa food crisis
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Read more examples of our work in Somalia / Somaliand:
Fleeing fighting
Somalia’s 20-year conflict has forced nearly 2 million people to flee their homes to escape intense fighting and shelling. The majority (more than 1.4 million) are displaced inside Somalia, but hundreds of thousands have also ended up in overcrowded camps in neighbouring countries such as Kenya.
When you see the families on the move, they don’t carry much. They just take the essentials. They arrive in the camps and just drop. Teachers, engineers, health workers, builders. They’re all here.
Mohamed Dahir, Director of Oxfam partner, HIJRA
Because of extreme levels of insecurity, south-central Somalia is one of the world’s most dangerous regions for aid agencies. Despite this, Oxfam works through local partner organisations to provide vital assistance to more than half a million people.
How Oxfam is helping
In the overcrowded camps, such as Afgooye – where 400,000 people are crammed into basic shelters, many made from plastic sheeting and sticks – Oxfam is providing life-saving aid such as clean water, latrines and mosquito nets. Oxfam health workers also advise residents how to stop the spread of diseases such as cholera and malaria. In Mogadishu, the capital city and scene of some of the heaviest fighting, we have also helped keep hospitals running by providing water, sanitation, beds and basic medicines. Oxfam also assists Somali refugees in neighbouring Kenya.
Many families have been left destitute by the conflict, which has destroyed many people’s livelihoods. Oxfam provides cash to some of the poorest families to help them start up small businesses in local markets.
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Almost continuous drought
Poor or failed rains in recent years have left some parts of Somalia facing almost continuous drought. The failure of the late-2010 rainy season has pushed some communities even closer to the edge, with cattle dying and severe water shortages across the country.
Blog: Speed is crucial as Somalia faces biggest crisis in 10 years
The conflict and lack of infrastructure has made people even more vulnerable to the droughts, as there are fewer alternative ways to make a living. Even in areas where food can still be produced, the extreme insecurity often means it can't reach markets and the people who need it most.
How Oxfam is helping
Somalia has had more than its fair share of disaster in recent years. This emergency aid has saved countless lives. But we want to do more. Longer-term development is needed if we are to help people out of the cycle of drought and disaster.
Abdillahi Yusuf, Somalia Country Director
The northern autonomous region of Somaliland is more stable than elsewhere in Somalia, but is severely affected by chronic drought. We're working with pastoralist communities to help them better prepare for failed rains – building and rehabilitating "berkads" (traditional reservoirs) and constructing dams and ponds to store precious water. Livestock is a key source of food and income for people in Somaliland, and our animal health workers help improve the condition of their cattle, so they are less likely to die in times of drought.
