Food Insecurity in Somalia

“History is at risk of tragically repeating itself. Once again, conflict-wracked Somalia is faced with mass hunger, just six years after a man-made famine took the lives of 250,000 people, mostly children, and 25 years after another killed 300,000, triggering a U.S. and UN intervention without which many more would have perished. An estimated 6.2 million people – half the country’s population – are in dire need; over three million are in a “crisis” or “emergency” situation, faced with death due to hunger and disease” (International Crisis Group 2017, p 1).

The article provides an overview of why food insecurity (and famine) keeps occurring in Somalia and its effects on the population. Because Somalis have been living in a conflict environment for decades, the threat of famine continues to resurface. The state is on its third wave of famine in the last 30 years. Somalia has been devastated by the crisis between 1991-1992, 2010-2011, and again today.

For famine to occur, a state is suffering from a widespread amount of food insecurity over time. There are several countries that are currently experiencing famine or near it. These countries include Yemen, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Afghanistan, and Somalia. Theoretically, and unlike other crises, famine can be prevented with proper planning and coordination (Hengel 2021).

Most of the time, however, famine is a result of conflict (Hengel 2021; International Crisis Group 2017). The ongoing conflict in Somalia is arguably a factor why famine is a recurring crisis since 1991. Today’s war between Ukraine and Russia is also a factor affecting the food crisis in Somalia (Gbadamosi 2022; Knutson 2022). Other reasons why Somalia is being threatened by famine include, but are not limited to: (1) the on-going conflict between clans; (2) the presence of al-Shabaab; (3) the current drought; (4) the high price of food; (5) the COVID-19 pandemic; (6) price of importing of food; (7) the supply chain; and (8) the inability to get aid to rural areas – particularly the south (Knutson 2022; Hengel 2021; International Crisis Group 2017; Maystadt and Ecker 2014; Seal and Bailey 2013).

Each of the reasons above are problematic in and of themselves, but when combined, it intensifies the complexity of today’s food insecurity crisis. For example, the presence of al-Shabaab in Somalia has been an issue for over 16 years. The insurgency was present before the 2010-2011 famine crisis and is still active during today’s crisis. The role al-Shabaab has in famine is significant. The militants are blocking populations, particularly in Somalia’s southern region, from receiving food, humanitarian aid, and the medical assistance they need to address malnourishment (International Crisis Group 2017; Seal and Bailey 2013).

Another reason for the current food insecurity crisis is the war between Russia and Ukraine and its effect in Somalia. This conflict is impacting the global supply chain and causing increased prices to purchase food locally and through receipt of food through imports (Gbadamosi 2022; Knutson 2022). In addition, humanitarian aid organizations are also experiencing an increase of cost, diversion of resources, and are ultimately having to make difficult decisions about how and where to allocate their resources (Knutson 2022).

Looking back further when famine struck Somalia between 1991 to 1992 the effects were dire. Approximately 220,000 – 300,000 people died, not because of a drought, but because of the conflict and sectarian politics (Samatar 2011). However, when famine returned between 2010-2011 it was exacerbated by a drought, the ongoing conflict, and al-Shabaab (Samatar 2011; International Crisis Group 2017; Seal and Bailey 2013). Approximately 258,000 people perished because of the 2010-2011 famine crisis (Seal and Bailey 2013).

For Somalia to stabilize and recover from its food insecurity crisis, there are several issues that need to be resolved. Many of these actionable items are seemingly easy to address in theory but given the reality of Somalia’s ongoing conflicts and the presence of al-Shabaab, they have proven difficult to implement.

Recommendations

First, humanitarian aid and resources need to get to Somalia’s rural communities. Because of the current security threats and the presence of al-Shabaab, it is difficult to reach Somalia’s most vulnerable. To address this issue, organizations need to become more innovative and agile in their delivery of aid (Paterson 2022). Whether this means coming to an agreement with the insurgency group to allow food and medical aid into Somalia’s most vulnerable areas or an alternative solution. The bottom line is that research suggests repeatedly that al-Shabaab is prohibiting access to humanitarian aid (Knutson 2022; International Crisis Group 2017; Seal and Bailey 2013). In addition to access, humanitarian aid organizations need to establish an operational capacity to physically work in south-central Somalia and other vulnerable areas (Seal and Bailey 2013). Because of the security threats, the on-going conflict, and lack of adequate funding, achieving this need has failed (Seal and Bailey 2013; International Crisis Group 2017).

Second, external communications regarding famine in Somalia could be improved. While famine is a technical term in which specific characteristics must be met, there needs to be improvements in communicating to the international community that famine is a possibility and action is required to mitigate the threat.

Third, policies specific to when famine can be declared may need to be adjusted. When a state declares famine, thousands of fatalities among vulnerable populations (e.g., children, elderly) occur. It is possible that the number of fatalities from severe food insecurity can be reduced if a pre-emptive declaration of famine can be made so that international organizations are able to divert resources and aid to reduce the threat.

Finally, when famine occurs, there will be extraordinary stress on a state’s healthcare infrastructure including, but not limited to the need for nurses, doctors, hospital beds, medicine, and treatment for related maladies. Given that food security continues to be a threat in Somalia, the government needs to prioritize the development of its healthcare infrastructure to effectively respond so lives can be saved in both the short term, and also the long term as survivors may develop complications from malnourishment.

Summary

Managing food security is essential to life and welfare, and preventing famine needs to be a priority for all states. In this case study of Somalia, the research shows that within the last 30 years, famine was officially declared two times. Tragically, the state is once again facing famine. Somalia, and its allies, can take steps to prevent future occurrences, but more importantly, they need to act to reduce the number of the imminent fatalities that will occur because of this current crisis.

*Note: This article was pulled from my “Three Decades of Conflict and Multiple, Concurrent Crises: Past, Present, and Future Challenges Impacting Somalia’s Stability” report published in 2022. Contact me if you’d like a copy.

References

International Crisis Group. Instruments of Pain (III): Conflict and Famine in Somalia.

International Crisis Group, 2017. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep31850. Accessed 1 Nov. 2022.

Hengel, Livia. “3 things you may not know about famine — and how to prevent it.” World Food

Programme. 14 April 2021. https://www.wfp.org/stories/3-things-you-may-not-know-about-famine-and-how-prevent-it. Accessed 2 November 2022.

Gbadamosi, Nosmot. “War in Ukraine Is Worsening East Africa’s Food Crisis.” 11 May 2022.

https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/05/11/ukraine-russia-war-agriculture-food-hunger-crisis-east-africa/. Accessed 2 November 2022.

Knutson, Ryan, host. “Somalia’s Hunger Crisis.” The Journal. 18 July 2022.

https://www.wsj.com/podcasts/the-journal/somalia-hunger-crisis/5a60d32c-c6b7-4a00-ad04-59bbb290087f Accessed 3 November 2022.

Maystadt, Jean-Francois and Ecker, Oliver. “Extreme Weather and Civil War: Does Drought

Fuel Conflict in Somalia through Livestock Price Shocks?.” American Journal of Agricultural Economics, vol. 96 No. 4, (2014): 1157-1182. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1093/ajae/aau010. Accessed 3 November 2022.

Paterson, Niall. “Somalia: On the brink of famine.” Sky News Daily. 17 October 2022.

https://news.sky.com/story/somalia-on-the-brink-of-famine-12722416 Accessed 12 November 2022.

Samatar, Abdi Ismail. “Genocidal politics and the Somali famine.” Al Jazeera. 30 June 2011.

https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2011/7/30/genocidal-politics-and-the-somali-famine. Accessed 2 November 2022.

Seal, A., Bailey, R. The 2011 Famine in Somalia: lessons learnt from a failed response?. Conflict

and Health 7, 22 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1505-7-22.  Accessed 3 November 2022.