The climate crisis has intensified in Somalia, affecting more than 8 million people each year and up to 1.2 million displaced by floods. 90% of rural households face severe water scarcity, while 70% of agricultural production is destroyed due to unpredictable rains, resulting in food crises and economic losses.
4.3 million people in Somalia are facing a food crisis, with 45% of children under the age of five suffering from severe malnutrition. The impact of climate disasters on the economy is profound, accounting for an annual loss of 4.8% of GDP, and is having a negative impact on economic stability and resilience.
Impact of Droughts on Livelihoods and Agriculture
Somalia has experienced more than 12 severe droughts in the past 40 years, with the 2022 drought affecting 7.8 million people. About 3.5 million cattle, which account for 60 percent of the rural economy, died, causing economic losses of $1.4 billion. Agriculture, which accounts for 75 percent of the country’s GDP, experienced a 40 percent drop in production during the recent drought.
Flooding and Its Role in Displacement and Infrastructure Damage
1.2 million people are affected by floods each year, and 600,000 people are displaced by recurring floods. In 2021 alone, floods damaged 30,000 homes, 50 schools, and 20 health centers, causing an economic loss of $250 million. In addition, 35% of agricultural land in flood-affected areas suffers crop loss every year.
Water Scarcity and Its Effect on Rural Communities
More than 8 million people in Somalia do not have access to clean drinking water, and only 30 percent of the total population benefits from basic sanitation. Rural areas, where 70 percent of the population live, are acutely water-scarce, with 65 percent of families forced to spend 40 percent of their income on water. Each year, water-related illnesses account for up to 15 percent of all reported deaths.
Economic and Social Costs of Climate Change in Somalia
Somalia’s GDP is reduced by 5 percent each year due to climate disasters, with financial losses exceeding $400 million. An estimated 2.6 million people have been displaced by climate impacts, with 80 percent living in extreme poverty. Recurring natural disasters caused by climate change cost the country $1 billion a year in lost productivity and infrastructure repairs.
Somalia continues to experience severe impacts from climate crises, with more than 8.3 million people affected by drought and floods each year, displacing some 2.9 million people. Economic losses due to these natural disasters reach $1.2 billion annually, which accounts for a 5.5 percent reduction in the country’s GDP.
About 75% of the rural economy, largely dependent on agriculture, is at risk, and 90% of the country’s water resources are also under severe pressure, requiring urgent investment in climate resilience. .
