Somalia

Protection Issues

Somalia faces one of its most severe protection crises in years, with 3.1 million people exposed to escalating protection risks caused by conflict, prolonged droughts, and recurrent disease outbreaks. Conflict among government forces, non-State armed groups, and clan militias has fuelled forced displacement (including secondary displacement) and exposes civilians to serious violations, including abductions, child recruitment, killings, and various forms of sexual violence, which are often exacerbated by natural hazards including recurrent drought episodes. In a context of heightened vulnerabilities, rape and other forms of sexual violence and coping mechanisms like child labour and child, early and forced marriage are widespread. Explosive hazards, including landmines, IEDs, and remnants of war continue to kill, injure, and restrict access to land, markets, and services, especially in rural and conflict-affected areas. Internally displaced people face additional challenges as rising instances of forced evictions, often violent and sudden, destroy shelters and disrupt lifesaving services, leaving families highly vulnerable.