Climate Change in Somalia:
Millions of people are affected by regular, almost yearly droughts caused by anthropogenic climate change creating famine and disease as a consequence. From Somalia's capital, Mogadishu to the rural parts of Baidoa, the East African country has been subject to tremendous stress brought about by human-induced climatic changes. According to Save the Children, more than 70% of people were affected by the drought and went without food and water.Little aid is delivered and agencies on the ground began to struggle without the necessary media coverage to spotlight the problems of displaced people where 6 million faced food insecurity.
Recovering from civil war, plagued by terrorism and regular droughts, year on year Somalia contends with more than one problem.
Increasing extreme weather patterns are diluting the availability of fertile soil causing widespread food shortages and an undetermined future. These photographs were taken as part of an NGO project.
Kismayo prays for rain:
In the village of Kismayo, hundreds of people came together to pray for rain, a movement of major significance pointing to the devastation caused by a lack of water.As we traveled around the area, the havoc wreaked by drought was plain to see through a lack of vegetation, dry air and the general vacancy of vitality of plant life and fauna in the region.
Environmental changes increase the terror threat level:
All around Somalia, signs of the dire situation are evident in visual clues such as fortified residential homes, hotels and the lack of any form of humidity. In the city, the situation is different as expected with any natural catastrophe. But additional security and an increased threat of violence from militant groups makes conditions difficult to live with. Somalia is supported by the African Union in their fight against hostile groups, but the ever changing situation brought about by climate change will always enhance the terror threat level due to the long term nature of the consequences that are influenced by global warming in the country. Depleted food stocks and a low yield agriculture industry heighten the propaganda produced by terror cells in a country that is number five on the Global Terrorism Index.
