Resilience Under Pressure: Women’s Experiences Amidst Somalia’s Climate Change Crisis

As floodwaters engulf Mogadishu, homes and livelihoods are destroyed, revealing a crisis that disproportionately affects women and girls amidst climate change. The floods, devastating to all, particularly impact women and girls who bear the burden of fetching water for their families, made near impossible by contaminated floodwaters and ruined wells.

SIHA Network's team in Somalia recently spoke with a diverse group of women, including flood-displaced persons (IDPs), those with disabilities, and women's rights activists. Each shared their unique perspective on the impact of climate change.

Halima Mumin Guure, residing in an Internally Displaced People (IDP) camp, described the hardships: "As the sole caregiver for my orphaned children, I bear the responsibility of both mother and father. When climate-induced disasters strike, our makeshift shelters collapse, our sleeping mats are washed away, and we are left hungry and isolated due to flooded roads."

Hodan Ali Dahir, who is blind, highlighted the added challenges faced by women with disabilities: "Natural disasters weigh heavier on us because privacy violations and safety threats in communal spaces exacerbate our vulnerabilities during crises, emphasizing the urgent need for tailored support and protection."

On the other hand, IDP camps, isolated and lacking essential services, exacerbate hardships for women and girls by depriving them of education, employment, and adequate healthcare. Malnutrition and disease outbreaks, compounded by responsibilities like manual labor for food, worsen their plight.

These experiences underscore how climate change deepens vulnerabilities faced by women and girls in Mogadishu and the world over. They also call for support— including access to clean water, safe spaces, and opportunities to rebuild and create awareness.

SIHA Network, through the Somali Women Press Club, produced this documentary that showcases climate change's impact on Somali women and girls: https://youtu.be/xIt5o3WZAGI?si=eZNv-G-BBij-2VlE

By raising awareness and highlighting their resilience, the documentary aims to inspire action for adaptation and mitigation efforts. It also serves as a powerful advocacy tool, amplifying voices for gender-responsive policies and interventions from local communities, government officials, policymakers, NGOs, development partners, and educational institutions to combat climate change effects effectively.