1.4.3. Other impacts on civilian life

According to the Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for 2025, 9.1 million people, or 47 % of the overall population in Somalia, are affected by multiple shocks caused by conflict, floods, drought, disease outbreaks, and displacement.323

Within this context, there are almost 6 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in the country in 2025, down from 6.9 million in 2024,324 and 8.25 million in 2023.325 This is due to stricter scope setting in the analysis process, but also improvements in drought conditions, decreases in internal displacement, and lower floods, factors that have all contributed to positive developments in the humanitarian situation.326 However, Somalia is still confronted with a protracted and complex humanitarian crisis, where conflict and insecurity drivers interplay with climate shocks and recurring disease outbreaks, notably of Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) /cholera in IDP sites.327

At the beginning of 2025, the food security situation remained precarious, with more than 440 000 people in an ‘emergency’ situation (Phase 4), almost 3 million in ‘crisis’ (Phase 3), and another 6.5 million ‘stressed’ (Phase 2). With projected trends worsening for the remainder of 2025, the affected population was distributed across all regions, notably in correspondence of IDP sites, while it exhibited higher levels of concentration in the whole of Mudug and Galgaduud, as well as portion of Bari, Middle Shabelle, Lower Shabelle, Bay and Bakool. The most affected households were to be found in agricultural and pastoralist contexts, as well as in IDP sites. In terms of acute malnutrition, more than 1.7 million children, aged between 6 and 59 months were in need of treatment, either for severe or moderate acute malnutrition, notably in south-central Somalia.328
  
Among others, access to safe drinking water, suitable living conditions, and healthcare are particularly challenging in Somalia. Half of Somalia’s population is water insecure, while widespread households’ issues include lack of access to kitchen utensils, hygiene items, privacy, and source of power. In terms of healthcare, primary barriers include lack of accessible health facilities, unaffordable costs, and unavailability of medicines and services. Across all these domains, IDPs experience the same issues as the host communities at a higher rate.329

Within this overall context, the most vulnerable groups are the minority and marginalised communities in Somalia, whose access to humanitarian assistance is also hindered; children in general, who represent the 44 % of all people in need in the country; women, who together with children represent 80 % of the entire IDP population, older persons, and persons with disabilities, whose access to humanitarian assistance is particularly obstructed.330 For more information on the humanitarian situation at regional level, conflict induced displacement, and other impacts on civilians please see section 2 Regional security situation and trends.

Civilian infrastructure was reported to be frequently caught in the crossfire of the fight against Al-Shabaab, or other conflict dynamics. During the reference period, the UN task force on monitoring and reporting on grave violations against children (alone) verified the following attacks on schools and hospitals across the country:

• schools experienced 12 attacks in the period 8 February - 7 June 2023,331 12 attacks in the period 8 June – 5 October 2023,332 2 attacks in the period 6 October 2023 – 24 January 2024,333 13 attacks in the period 25 January – 23 May 2024,334 11 attacks (including on hospitals) in the period 24 May – 20 September 2024;335 
   
• hospitals experienced 10 attacks in the period 8 February - 7 June 2023,336 2 attacks in the period 8 June – 5 October 2023,337 2 attacks in the period 25 January – 23 May 2024,338 11 attacks (including on hospitals) in the period 24 May – 20 September 2024.339

In the context of the conflict in Las Anod, civilian infrastructure, health facilities, and schools were severely affected.340 Increasing levels of clan conflict during the reporting period have also resulted in damage to critical infrastructure and caused service disruptions. For instance, in the context of the clan conflict in Luuq (Gedo), armed violence resulted in attacks on health facilities, leaving thousands without access to medical care, as well as on Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities, increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. Similarly, the destruction of schools and the displacement of teachers has left children without access to education.341

For background information on evictions in Somalia, please see the EUAA COI Report Somalia: Security Situation (February 2023).342 In the course of 2024, the NRC registered the eviction of more than 192 000 individuals across Somalia, while there were more than 207 000 in the course of 2023.343 Banadir (Daynille, Kahda), Bay (Baidoa), and Wogooyi Galbeed (Hargeisa) accounted for more than 90 % of all forced evictions. Urban IDPs, especially in spaces with high population density, tend to live on private land and without formal tenure agreements, which increases the risk of forced evictions.344 For more detailed information at regional level, please see section 2 Regional security situation and trends.