Dr. Abdirahman Said Calls for Urgent Action on Climate-Driven Displacement in Somalia

By Wilson Amondi

Somalia faces an alarming humanitarian crisis, with climate-related disasters driving the displacement of more than five million people, according to Dr. Abdirahman Said, founder of Riiro Think Tank Firm and Country Director of Living Hope Foundation (LHF).


Speaking to members of the press in Nairobi, Dr. Said described the scale of suffering among Somali communities uprooted by recurring floods, droughts, and environmental shocks. He noted that two-thirds of forcibly displaced communities in and outside Somalia are victims of climate disasters, living in overcrowded informal settlements with limited access to healthcare, education, and basic infrastructure.

 “Our maternal mortality rate is very alarming and high. Families are living in dire conditions without access to proper healthcare facilities, especially maternal and child health services,” Dr. Said emphasized.

As a climate-displacement researcher and humanitarian activist, Dr. Said has been at the forefront of international advocacy, representing Somalia in the Global Compact on Refugees and at the UNFCCC COP climate negotiations on loss, damage, and financial justice. He played a key role in advancing Somalia’s Global Refugee Forum commitments, pushing for the inclusion of displaced communities in national development and climate resilience frameworks.

In his Nairobi address, Dr. Said underscored the importance of empowering Somali youth to drive long-term solutions.

“We are here today to gain knowledge and replicate it back home training youth networks to cultivate their human potential so that civil society can take active roles in governance and peacebuilding,” he said.

He also revealed plans to expand the operations of Living Hope Foundation, currently active in Somalia and the United States, to Kenya by 2026, focusing on refugee camps in Kakuma and Kalobeyei. In addition, he highlighted efforts to launch a cross-border initiative addressing the seasonal migration of pastoralist communities between Somalia and Kenya.

 “We are working towards creating durable solutions for pastoralist communities, enabling them to withstand climate shocks while sustaining their livelihoods,” Dr. Said explained.

The press briefing concluded with a call for collaboration between governments, civil society, and international partners to address the intersection of displacement, climate change, and underdevelopment in Somalia and the wider Horn of Africa.


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