Somalia experienced its worst drought in 15 years as a result of inadequate rainfall in 4 successive seasons between 2020 and 2022. Various different crises, including the economic impact of covid-19 and locust invasion in the region, hampered communities’ ability to properly recover from prior droughts and greatly reduced household resilience. As a result of water scarcity in many parts of the country, livestock welfare, livelihoods, and food production in drought-affected areas have been severely damaged.
Somalia’s drought condition has deteriorated significantly. This is owing to the poor rain yield in 2021, which preceded two consecutive seasons of rainfall shortages, and the early termination of the 2022 rainy seasons. According to the most recent UN data, the number of individuals in need of help has risen to 7.1 million. The situation in Hiran has deteriorated due to recent security operations between AS and local civilians with the help of Somalia’s national troops.
Insurgents, AS, burned down seven settlements and demolished water sources and telecommunication poles, causing a large exodus of residents from one settlement to the next in search of food and water.
Horseed development organization (HDO) conducted a drought and conflict needs assessment on 16-18 August 2022, in some villages under the Mataban and Mahas districts of the Hiran region, in a bid to respond to those shocks and to gain a clear understanding of the consequences of the humanitarian crisis caused by the severe drought situation accompanied with conflicts that hit in Hiran. HDO visited Bukure, Teedaan, Hees, Inaball, Bergadid, and Oomaad. WFP received the final assessment report.
