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In a stark reminder of the devastating impacts of climate change, Somalia’s ongoing drought is displacing thousands of people, forcing many to seek refuge in Kenya’s Dadaab Refugee Camp. Once a haven for those fleeing Somalia’s 1991 civil war, the camp now houses a growing number of “climate refugees.” According to the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), extreme weather events exacerbated by global warming have intensified migration, particularly in the Horn of Africa.
Life Inside Dadaab Refugee Camp
Situated near Kenya’s border with Somalia, Dadaab Refugee Camp is the world’s largest refugee settlement, currently housing over 300,000 people. While the camp offers basic services like food, healthcare, and education, its residents face significant restrictions. Movement beyond a 50-kilometer radius is prohibited, and refugees are not allowed to establish permanent settlements.
For individuals like Fardowsa Sirat Gele, a 25-year-old journalist born and raised in the camp, these limitations lead to profound identity challenges. Kenya does not issue birth certificates to those born in the camp, leaving many without legal recognition or pathways to citizenship.
The 2021 Refugee Act passed by the Kenyan government aims to address some of these challenges by integrating refugees into local communities, granting them the right to work and access financial services. However, the realities of implementation remain uncertain.
Climate Crisis and its Disproportionate Impacts
The Horn of Africa is on the frontline of the global climate crisis, despite contributing minimally to greenhouse gas emissions. In 2019, Somalia’s per capita carbon footprint was just one-fifth that of the European Union, yet it endures some of the most severe climate impacts. Events like prolonged droughts, made 100 times more likely due to human-induced climate change, have devastated livelihoods.
Between 2022 and 2023, Dadaab’s population surged from 234,000 to 320,000 as droughts destroyed crops and killed livestock across Somalia. Refugees arriving at the camp report losing all means of sustenance. One such story is of Halima Hassan Ibrahim, a single mother of seven with disabilities, who shared: “We had ten cows and 50 goats. All of the cows and goats died. I don’t have anything for my kids.”
In 2023, severe flooding across East Africa added to the plight of displaced communities, further straining Dadaab’s already overwhelmed resources.
A Call for Global Action
The Somali Federal Government and international organizations have initiated efforts to combat the crisis. Somalia has launched a $420 million package of World Bank-financed initiatives, such as the Somalia Urban Resilience Project (Nagaad), providing emergency relief and support to over 400,000 displaced individuals.
However, as Steve Trent, CEO of the Environmental Justice Foundation, emphasized, addressing the climate crisis requires urgent and systemic global action. “Every fossil fuel CEO prioritizing profit over people, every world leader failing to deliver the urgent change we need, is actively picking this course. It’s time to chart another,” said Trent.
Fardowsa Sirat, speaking as a journalist and refugee, also highlighted the injustice: “Those who have contributed the least to global emissions are the first to lose everything. Ignoring this urgent call will not only widen the divide between rich and poor nations but will also fuel conflict, poverty, and instability worldwide.”
The Path Forward
As the climate crisis intensifies, Dadaab Refugee Camp stands as both a testament to human resilience and a glaring symbol of global inequality. Addressing this crisis requires bold and compassionate action to support those most affected while mitigating the root causes of climate change.