A prolonged drought affecting large parts of Puntland has triggered a sharp increase in the prices of essential food items, worsening living conditions for residents and raising fears of a deepening humanitarian crisis.
Key towns including Garowe, Bosaso and Qardho, along with surrounding rural areas, are facing severe water shortages and dwindling grazing land. The situation has directly disrupted food supply chains and livestock-based livelihoods, which form the backbone of the local economy.
Residents say the cost of basic commodities such as maize flour, rice, cooking oil and sugar has risen by between 30 and 50 percent over recent months. Many families are now struggling to afford daily meals as incomes decline and food prices continue to climb.
Pastoralist communities have been among the hardest hit. Large numbers of livestock have died due to lack of water and pasture, while others remain in poor health. As a result, many households have been forced to migrate to urban centres or displacement camps in search of food, water and humanitarian assistance.
Puntland authorities have appealed to local and international aid agencies to urgently intervene. Officials say immediate support is needed in the form of food aid, water trucking and basic health services to prevent the crisis from worsening.
Humanitarian organisations operating in the region warn that vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly and internally displaced persons, are facing heightened risks of malnutrition and disease. Aid agencies are expected to scale up emergency responses in the coming weeks.
Climate experts caution that below-average rainfall could persist into the coming months, raising concerns that the drought may continue. They stress the need for both emergency relief and long-term strategies, including improved water management and climate resilience planning, to reduce the impact of recurring droughts.
With food prices rising and livelihoods under threat, communities across Puntland remain in urgent need of support as authorities and aid agencies race to avert a wider humanitarian emergency.
