Extreme weather events and conflict have caused families to leave their homes in search for safety and survival across Somalia. Many IDPs live in overcrowded camps or settlements with inadequate access to clean water, sanitation, healthcare, and education. Living conditions are often precarious, exacerbating the vulnerability of displaced families, particularly women, children, and the elderly.
Recurring droughts and food insecurity, disproportionately affects IDPs and host communities. Limited access to agricultural land, coupled with erratic rainfall patterns, exacerbates food shortages and malnutrition rates among displaced populations. Many IDP settlements and host communities do not have access to piped water systems, forcing residents to rely on alternative sources such as shallow wells, boreholes, or surface water bodies. Even when water sources are available, they are often contaminated with bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens due to poor sanitation practices and inadequate waste management. This contamination poses significant health risks to IDPs, leading to waterborne diseases such as cholera, diarrhoea, and typhoid fever. IDPs, returnees, and nomadic pastoralists are more likely to face challenges accessing water throughout the climate-conflict cycle, than the permanent residents.
CPD is addressing the challenges of accessing food, water and other basic needs for IDPs in
Adado, Galkayo and Abudwak districts with support from the German Government through the WeltHungerHilfe and in coordination with government authorities, and other humanitarian organisations. This includes delivery of emergency water to 5,460 households, investing in the rehabilitation of water infrastructure, promoting sustainable water management practices, improving sanitation facilities through construction of 108 latrines and 30 disability friendly latrines and enhancing community participation hygiene promotions.
On food scarcity, CPD has provided immediate food assistance to over 330 vulnerable IDPs households in 2024, targeting female-headed, child-headed, elderly and people with disability. Households. CPD ensures that assistance reaches those most in need, prioritizing households with malnourished children, pregnant and lactating women, and elderly individuals through community participation processes.