The river in Lower Shabelle, Southwest State of Somalia, has now totally dried up after extensive irrigation that once supported surrounding farms.
Today, livestock are crowding around an empty riverbed, and farmers are facing a huge water gap with no alternative sources. The shallow wells in nearby towns cannot meet the needs even the animals are struggling to drink.
One of the most emotional impacts is on children. Before the river dried up, families relied on boats to cross this vital waterway. Now, children walk across the dusty, empty riverbed, a painful reminder of how drastically the environment has changed. What was once a flowing lifeline has become a symbol of severe drought and loss.
These vulnerable communities urgently need:
✅ Emergency water trucking
✅ Livelihoods support
✅ Child-focused protection assistance
HAMDI calls on humanitarian partners, donors, and relevant clusters including UNICEF, WFP, FAO, UN OCHA, IOM, UNFPA, CARE, NRC, Concern Worldwide other INGOs and LNGOs to scale up urgent support to prevent further deterioration.
A river that once carried boats is now dry beneath children’s feet. The time to act is now.
