Climate Change in Somalia

Climate Change in Somalia

Works Cited

Burns, J. Jordan. Preventing the World’s Next Refugee Crisis: Famine, Conflict, and Climate Change in Nigeria, South Sudan, Somalia, and Yemen. American Security Project, 2017. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep06035. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

EKLÖW, KAROLINA, and FLORIAN KRAMPE. “Climate and Environmental Change in Somalia.” Climate-Related Security Risks and Peacebuilding in Somalia, Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, 2019, pp. 10–17. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep20064.9. Accessed 17 Apr. 2024.

"Focus on the Climate Crisis in Somalia". United States Agency of International Development, 2023

Impact of Climate Change

Somalia is facing droughts due to their two main sources of water not receiving sufficient amounts of precipitation. Additionally the "dry soil and environmental degradation cripple the environment’s ability to absorb or withstand extreme weather and natural hazards." This exacerbates the impact of effects associated with climate change such as intensified droughts, flash floods and sandstorms" (EKLÖW). Both the environment surrounding the Juba and the Shabelle rivers and the people of Somalia are being heavily affected by lack of water in the area.

What is Being Done

The target of support for the people of Somalia is the fight against famen. Due to thier sources of water being affected by climate change the United Nations enacted a "famine project." Because of this project the "USAID reaches 4.1 million people per month with emergency food assistance, safe drinking water and emergency health care to treat malnourished children" ("Focus on The Climate"). While this is extremely benificial in keeping the population of Somalia healthy, very little in actual climate change has changed to bring the now arid land back to a prosperous state.

Similar Situations to Somalia

Unfortunately other parts of Africa suffer harsh environmental issues due to climate change. It is noted that "Somalia has glaring similarities to the situation in Northeast Nigeria with Boko Haram" (Burns). Boko Haram also suffers from famine. The reservoir they use for water, Lake Chad, has been affected by climate change. Climate change has affected the region by drying out the lake and limited the crops produced by people of Nigeria.

The droughts over time have shown the effects of climate change dissuading the thought of poor agriculture leading to environmental mishaps. The loss of resources and sources of water has scared the planet with evidence of manmade climate change