MOGADISHU, April 24 (Xinhua) -- At least 62,000 people have been newly displaced by drought across five districts in Somalia since the start of 2026 as climate shocks intensify, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations migration agency, said on Friday.
IOM data shows that drought now causes three out of four new displacements, a 22 percent year-over-year increase that highlights the intensifying impact of climate shock.
Manuel Marques Pereira, chief of mission for IOM Somalia, warned that drought is already displacing tens of thousands from their homes, with many more likely to follow.
"Without swift action, drought will continue to uproot communities, deepen hunger and increase vulnerability across Somalia, particularly for the most vulnerable," Pereira said in a statement issued in Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia.
Even if the current Gu rains are normal, the IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix projects that another 125,000 people will be forced from their homes by June.
Water sources have been depleted, grazing conditions have deteriorated, and agricultural production has been severely reduced across parts of the country, forcing thousands to leave their homes in search of water, food and assistance, the IOM said.
IOM's Displacement Tracking Matrix projections indicate that drought-related mobility, particularly among pastoral and farming communities, is expected to increase further in the coming months if rainfall conditions do not improve. ■
