Prolonged droughts, failed rainy seasons and displacement are raising everyday risks for women and girls. The result is a sharp rise in gender-based violence (GBV) in Somalia, turning a climate emergency into a public health crisis. The solutions exist. From safe spaces to bringing water closer to homes, programs cut risks and restore autonomy. 

Water Scarcity Forces Longer, Riskier Journeys

Only 52% of people in Somalia have access to a basic water supply. When regulated systems fall short, families turn to distant or unsafe sources. Fetching water is usually the job of women and girls and the long walks can expose them to harassment and assault. This proves climate instability drives gender-based violence in Somalia.

UNICEF and partners extend pipelines, drill boreholes, repair systems and support community-led sanitation efforts so that water is closer to homes. Shorter walks mean fewer chances for abuse and more time for school and work.

Overcrowded Displacement Camps Heighten Protection Risks

Climate shocks destroy livelihoods and push families into cities. In many IDP sites, cramped shelters, poor lighting and unprotected latrines increase exposure to sexual violence. In 2021, Somali women and children made up 93% of reported GBV survivors and 74% of reports came from displaced communities. Lack of lockable latrines, privacy and lighting are major risks.

Changing climatic conditions are driving GBV in Somalia by worsening displacement, straining services and increasing the daily dangers women and girls face in overcrowded camps. Evidence shows that practical steps can significantly reduce GBV risks in overcrowded IDP sites. Safety audits in Baidoa revealed that camps lacking lighting or secure shelters left women particularly vulnerable at night.

In contrast, latrines equipped with locks and solar bulbs improved both safety and dignity for users. Together with better fencing, lockable shelters and alternative fuel sources to reduce firewood collection risks, these measures help create safer, more protective environments for displaced families.

Food Insecurity Drives Harmful Coping Strategies

Drought, conflict and price shocks erode income. Families face impossible choices that can increase GBV in Somalia, including survival sex and child marriage. UNFPA notes spikes in rape and IPV linked to displacement and scarcity.

Harmful practices like Female genital mutilation (FGM) are also used to increase girls’ “marriageability.” Cash assistance with protection measures, safe and inclusive distributions, plus GBV risk mitigation in food security programs. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) highlights how integrating gender analysis into food responses lowers risk while meeting needs.

Shocked Health Systems Limit Survivor Care

Climate and conflict damage roads and clinics, making reaching medical and psychosocial support harder. UNFPA reports gaps in rape treatment, case management and Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in rural areas and camps, which can trap survivors in unsafe settings.

UNFPA’s One-Stop Centers and Women & Girls’ Safe Spaces provide confidential, survivor-centered care under one roof, from clinical services to legal referrals. In Bosaso, a UNFPA-supported One-Stop Center is fully operational and serving survivors. As weather changes are driving GBV in Somalia, these safe spaces are vital lifelines, ensuring women and girls have access to protection, support and pathways to recovery.

Women-Led Adaptation Reduces Exposure and Builds Autonomy

Women are leading climate solutions that also reduce exposure to violence. Training in solar energy, water systems and climate-smart livelihoods places women at the center of risk reduction. UNICEF’s Youth Empowerment Center in Dollow trained displaced youth, including young women like Amina, to install solar panels.

Bringing reliable power and water closer to homes reduces the need for trips to distant, unsafe locations. The UNDP and its partners are also scaling up water infrastructure and nature-based solutions in Somalia. As a result, thousands of women-headed households are gaining reliable water access, reducing the time spent on risky journeys.

Why This Is a Global Health Issue

Gender-based violence in Somalia is fueled by drought, displacement and stressed systems. Changing weather patterns are driving GBV in Somalia by worsening displacement, deepening poverty and heightening daily risks for women and girls. It raises trauma, maternal health risks and disease exposure in crowded sites with weak WASH services.

Tackling it means pairing climate finance with GBV prevention, expanding access to safe water and sanitation, investing in survivor services and backing women-led adaptation. These steps save lives, restore dignity and strengthen resilience to a changing climate, offering Somali women and girls a safer and more hopeful future.

– Lucy Williams

Lucy is based in Wrexham, UK and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons