The drought caused at least 43 000 excess deaths last year, according to statistics released by the government this week. (Photo by Giles Clarke for The New York Times via Getty Images)
SThe rainy season is between March and June. Or, rather, it used to be. If the rains don’t come this year – and drier weather is forecast – it will be the sixth failed rainy season in a row.
The drought caused at least 43 000 excess deaths last year, according to statistics released by the government this week. Half of those who died were children under the age of five.
An estimated 1.4 million people have been forced from their homes due to extreme weather. That’s almost 10% of the entire population.
On the outskirts of Dolow, a small town in the southwest of the country, the Kaxareey camp houses several thousand displaced people.
Among them is Mama Ainab, who fled Baidoa last year with her two children, losing everything: her home, her shop, her livelihood. And Hawa Siad, who walked hundreds of kilometers to find food and water for her family, lost her child on the way. She worries about her other children, who are not getting an education in the camp, and need more food and water than the camp can provide.
“Life has been very difficult,” said Siad.
Humanitarian agencies say Somalia needs $2.6 billion in emergency aid to deal with the effects of a prolonged drought, linked to climate change.
“The people of Somalia are paying the price of a climate emergency that is too little,” said Salah Jama, the federal deputy prime minister.
This article first appeared on Continenta pan-African weekly newspaper produced in partnership with Mail & Guardians. It is designed to be read and shared on WhatsApp. Your download free copy here.