Violence in Somalia displaces over 100,000 people

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that ongoing armed violence in Somalia's Hiraan and Gedo regions has displaced more than 100,000 people over the past two months. The recent escalation of clashes has severely impacted parts of Hirshabelle State in the center, as well as Jubaland State in the south, exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation.

On Saturday, intensified fighting in Mahas, a town in the Hiraan region, forced over 28,000 residents to flee their homes. Armed clashes took place between Jubaland forces, who were supported by Ethiopian soldiers, and Somali troops. This created high tension and restricted movement in the city.

The continued violence, which stems from disagreements over the electoral framework, could worsen the already critical humanitarian situation. Mahas has reportedly been taken over by non-state armed groups (NSAGs).

Meanwhile, from July 23 to 26, clashes between the Federal Government of Somalia (FGS) and Jubaland security forces in Belet-Hawo, in the Gedo region, led to the displacement of an additional 38,000 people, some of whom sought refuge across the border in Kenya.

These new waves of displacement are adding to the more than 280,000 people uprooted in Somalia since February of this year, placing additional strain on limited resources. Since the start of 2025, some 350,000 people have been displaced, primarily due to conflict and violence, and to a lesser extent, due to flooding and drought.

According to OCHA, recent violence has not only displaced thousands, but also disrupted essential services. Seven health facilities in the Hiraan region have suspended operations due to security concerns, leaving thousands without access to critical healthcare and emergency services.

Humanitarian access is severely restricted, especially in remote areas, due to insecurity and limited funding, which hinders the ability of humanitarian organizations to operate effectively. Communities affected by the violence urgently need shelter, food, clean water, healthcare, and protection.

However, aid agencies are grappling with severe funding cuts, which have stalled many operations and reduced the availability of assistance. Since the beginning of the year, the humanitarian response has been hindered by a lack of resources, and two million Somalis are projected to face increased vulnerability in the coming months.

The Somalia Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) requires US$1.4 billion but is currently only 16 percent funded, having received $230 million thus far.

These shortfalls in aid result directly from the United States and other donor governments withdrawing essential humanitarian aid. Last year, the US government contributed more than half of the funding received by the 2024 Somalia HNRP, or $475.7 million. However, to date, the US has only provided $27.5 million for the 2025 HNRP.

Aid agencies have been forced to reprioritize their activities in order to align with the new funding reality; however, resources remain critically low. The revised response targets just 1.3 million people, a staggering 72 percent reduction from the initial 2025 target of 4.6 million.

Without urgent and sustained funding, humanitarian agencies warn that the crisis will deepen, leading to preventable suffering and loss of life. The UN is urging the international community to respond swiftly in order to avert the further deterioration of the humanitarian situation in Somalia.

Aid shortages continue to take a growing toll on Somalia's most vulnerable people, leaving them without access to vital healthcare, nutritional support, and safe water. The brutal funding cuts are devastating for severely malnourished children who have lost or will soon lose access to lifesaving treatment.

Reduced donor funding has forced aid organizations in Somalia to scale back or close critical programs, drastically reducing life-saving operations and endangering millions of lives. Food assistance has been slashed, health facilities are closing, and water and sanitation services are dwindling.

In 2025, about one-third of Somalia's population — nearly 6 million people — are in need of humanitarian assistance.

The country faces a severe food security situation, with 4.6 million people experiencing acute hunger and an expected 1.8 million children under the age of five to be acutely malnourished this year. Of those children, 479,000 are likely to be severely malnourished.

Despite being one of the world’s most critical hunger hotspots, Somalia has seen a more than 50 percent drop in food assistance in the first months of this year compared to the same period last year, according to aid agencies working in the country.

Somalia is in the midst of a severe and prolonged humanitarian crisis fueled by conflict, poverty, widespread displacement, climate shocks, disease outbreaks, and limited access to basic services. At least 9.1 million Somalis, out of a population of 19.3 million, are affected by the crisis.

Ongoing conflict, escalating clan violence, and recurrent extreme weather events caused by climate change have led to widespread displacement. An estimated 4.5 million Somalis remain displaced. Of those, 3.6 million are displaced within Somalia, and more than 900,000 have sought refuge in neighboring countries.

On Thursday, Ugochi Daniels, the Deputy Director General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), concluded a four-day mission to Somalia. She sounded the alarm on the deepening climate and displacement crisis unfolding in the country.

“The people of Somalia are living through some of the harshest impacts of the climate crisis – which is driving internal displacement, straining cities already under pressure, and fueling tensions over dwindling resources,” Daniels said, whose visit underscored both the magnitude of the crisis and the resilience of local communities.

“Communities here are driving innovative, homegrown solutions that tackle the impacts of the climate crisis while laying the groundwork for peace and stability. The world has much to learn from what’s being achieved here,” she said.

Earlier, she noted that Somalis “carry this burden despite contributing almost nothing to global emissions.”

As the East African country faces the realities of the climate and environmental crises, Daniels delivered a clear message:

“This isn’t just about Somalia - it’s a global reckoning. We can either invest in solutions now, or allow the most vulnerable to pay the price of inaction later. The world must not look away.”