Thousands pushed into displacement as Horn of Africa suffers worst drought in 40 years

The drought has been compounded by other shocks including the Covid-19 pandemic, armed conflict, and desert locusts, and has caused catastrophic damage to livestock, crops, and water sources. Communities have exhausted their coping mechanisms, and 12-14 million people are now severely food insecure across the three countries. In the likely event of a fourth failed rainy season, this figure could double, affecting 25.3 million people by mid-2022.

On the move in search of food, water and pasture

The thousands of families searching for food, water and pasture across the region not only suffer from the heightened protection risks and vulnerabilities that come with displacement, but increased pressure on host community resources can also be a trigger for intercommunal conflict and secondary displacement.

Somalia is the most affected: over 80% of the country is facing drought conditions, and 1.4 million people are expected to be displaced in the coming months. In Dollow alone, 2,000 internally displaced households have moved to two IDP sites since October 2021. This 17% increase has serious implications for host communities’ already limited resources.

“The situation is deteriorating extremely quickly, and elders now compare it to the 1974 drought. This is really devastating for pastoralist communities and will have a lasting impact on their resilience and self-reliance,” says Audrey Crawford, DRC Somalia Country Director.

Cereal harvests in Kenya and Somalia are expected to be up to 70% below average in January/February 2022; over 1.4 million cattle have already died in Kenya, and 8.4 million in in eastern and south-eastern Ethiopia.