CH1535785
Zainab* and her children, including Mohamed* (7 months), have been hit by successive droughts in their home village in Puntland, Somalia. Although they have tried to adapt, the severity and frequency of the climate-related disasters is making it almost impossible for them to cope.
Zainab’s family was displaced during the severe 2017 drought and watched as almost all of their livestock died. They moved to a village and Zainab opened a small shop to support her family. But as another drought hits the region, Zainab’s customers have all moved away in search of water and pasture for their livestock and she was forced to close her business.
The loss of income meant it was difficult to buy clean water and Zainab had to reduce the number of meals her family had each day. She was also forced to withdraw her children from school because she couldn’t afford the fees.
The lack of food and clean water meant Mohamed became malnourished and was admitted to a Save the Children-supported malnutrition stabilisation centre. He was treated for severe acute malnutrition in the centre for 10 days and has now been discharged. He has returned home with his mother and will continue his treatment at a local health facility.
Families like Zainab’s have experienced an increasing number of climate-related disasters over the last few decades, ranging from long-lasting droughts to devastating floods, locust infestations and even cyclones, sometimes all experienced in the same region within months.
This growing climate crisis has led to food insecurity, increased water shortages, widespread disease outbreaks, displacement and a drastic reduction in household incomes. Children and their families cannot cope as they have no time to recover before the next crisis hits.
In 2021, Somalia is facing yet another drought, which is pushing the number of children and adults who need critical support to 5.9 million – a third of the population and an increase of 700,000 people comp
