Somali authorities and the international community have repeatedly failed to protect thousands of people displaced by climate-related drought in southern Somalia, leaving them vulnerable to violations of their rights to food, water, health, and life, according to a new Amnesty International report.
Titled “No rain, no food, no animals: The human rights impact of drought and displacement in Somalia”, the report details how, between 2020 and 2023, climate-induced drought, coupled with ongoing conflict and marginalization, forced thousands of Somalis to relocate first to internal displacement camps in southern Somalia and later to Dadaab Refugee Camp in Kenya. During these journeys, authorities provided little to no relief, including food or healthcare.
“Somalia is on the frontline of human-induced climate change,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. “Its contribution to global warming is negligible, yet its people bear the brunt of the crisis. High-income countries most responsible for climate change must step up to support Somalia in adapting to these effects.”
The report, based on interviews with 177 refugees at Dadaab between September 2024 and March 2025, as well as humanitarian workers and government officials, highlights the dire conditions faced by displaced families. Persistent drought has dried up water sources, causing people to rely on contaminated water, resulting in outbreaks of waterborne diseases such as cholera. Food prices have surged by up to 160% above pre-2020 levels, fueling malnutrition and further displacement.
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Somalia declared the drought a national disaster in November 2021, yet health budgets remain under 5% of government spending, far below the 15% target set by the Abuja Declaration, leaving millions without access to essential services.
Stories from affected families illustrate the human cost. Fadumo, a 53-year-old mother of eight from Baydhabo, abandoned her farm and walked 24 hours for dirty water before relocating to Dadaab after failing to find work in Mogadishu. Bile, a 33-year-old father of eight from Jilib, lost his elderly parents after he had to move with his family due to drought-induced food scarcity.
Displacement often occurred multiple times. IDPs initially settled in southern Somalia faced further movement due to continued drought or floods. Journeys to Dadaab could last two days to six weeks, with many forced to sell belongings or livestock to afford transport. Humanitarian aid was largely absent along travel routes, with limited assistance concentrated only at camps, leaving many families malnourished and exhausted upon arrival.
“Somali authorities must urgently implement climate resilience policies that protect vulnerable communities from the compounding effects of drought, conflict, and displacement,” Chagutah said.
The report calls for a coordinated international response to ensure that climate-displaced communities in Somalia receive the protection, resources, and rights guaranteed under the Somali constitution and international law, including the Kampala Convention.