By: The SRNNA Team
Table of Contents
9 Minute Read
Introduction (PPT Formula)
Vulnerability in Somalia is shaped by a combination of poverty, displacement, limited public services, and prolonged humanitarian stress. While emergencies affect wide segments of the population, certain groups face heightened and persistent risks that require targeted attention.
Elderly people, individuals living with disabilities, and marginalized communities often experience greater barriers to accessing food, healthcare, water, and social support. These challenges are intensified during periods of drought, flooding, or displacement, when household and community coping mechanisms are stretched.
This article explains who is considered vulnerable in Somalia, the factors that increase risk for specific groups, and why inclusive humanitarian approaches are essential for effective and equitable assistance.
Understanding Vulnerability in the Somali Context
Vulnerability in Somalia is not defined by a single characteristic. Instead, it reflects overlapping social, economic, and environmental factors that limit a person’s ability to cope with shocks.
Groups commonly identified as vulnerable include:
elderly individuals without family support
people living with physical or psychosocial disabilities
minority and marginalized clans
female-headed households
internally displaced people with limited livelihoods
These groups often face structural barriers that persist even outside periods of acute crisis.
The Elderly and Humanitarian Risk
Older adults in Somalia are particularly vulnerable due to declining physical capacity, limited income opportunities, and dependence on family or community support. In the absence of formal social protection systems, elderly individuals rely heavily on informal care networks.
During emergencies, these support systems may weaken. Displacement, food shortages, or health crises can isolate older people and reduce their access to assistance.
Mobility limitations also make it more difficult for elderly individuals to reach distribution points, health facilities, or water sources, increasing their risk during humanitarian crises.
Disability and Access Barriers
People living with disabilities face multiple layers of exclusion in humanitarian contexts. Physical, sensory, and psychosocial disabilities can limit access to services that are not designed with inclusion in mind.
Common barriers include:
inaccessible distribution sites
lack of assistive devices
limited access to specialized healthcare
social stigma and marginalization
During emergencies, these barriers are often compounded, leaving people with disabilities disproportionately affected by food insecurity, poor health outcomes, and protection risks.
Marginalized and Minority Communities
Marginalized groups in Somalia may experience reduced access to resources, services, and decision-making processes. Social exclusion can affect where people live, the assistance they receive, and their ability to advocate for their needs.
In humanitarian settings, marginalized communities may be underrepresented in assessments or face challenges in accessing aid due to discrimination, language barriers, or lack of documentation.
Addressing these disparities requires careful targeting and community engagement to ensure assistance reaches all populations equitably.
Displacement and Compounded Vulnerability
Displacement intensifies vulnerability across all groups. Families forced to flee often lose livelihoods, social networks, and access to services, increasing reliance on humanitarian assistance.
Displaced elderly people and individuals with disabilities face particular challenges in displacement sites, where infrastructure may be temporary and support services limited.
Crowded conditions, limited shelter, and inadequate sanitation further heighten risks for vulnerable individuals.
Health and Protection Concerns
Vulnerable populations often experience poorer health outcomes due to limited access to care and higher exposure to risk factors. Chronic illness, malnutrition, and disability can intersect, creating complex needs that require coordinated responses.
Protection concerns are also significant. Vulnerable individuals may face increased risk of neglect, exploitation, or exclusion, particularly in displacement settings where formal protection mechanisms are limited.
Humanitarian responses therefore integrate health, protection, and social support considerations when working with vulnerable groups.
Inclusive Humanitarian Approaches
Inclusive humanitarian programming seeks to ensure that assistance is accessible, appropriate, and responsive to diverse needs. This includes adapting delivery methods, improving physical access, and engaging communities in identifying barriers.
Community-based approaches are particularly effective in Somalia, where local networks play a key role in identifying vulnerable individuals and providing support.
Inclusive approaches improve accountability and help ensure that assistance reaches those most at risk.
Strengthening Community Support Systems
Communities in Somalia have long relied on mutual support systems to care for vulnerable members. Strengthening these systems through targeted assistance and capacity-building enhances resilience.
Supporting caregivers, improving access to basic services, and integrating vulnerability considerations into broader programs help reduce long-term dependence and improve quality of life for vulnerable populations.
Conclusion (TAC Process)
In summary, vulnerability in Somalia is shaped by age, disability, social exclusion, and displacement. Elderly individuals, people living with disabilities, and marginalized communities face heightened risks that require inclusive and targeted humanitarian responses.
Addressing vulnerability effectively depends on understanding local contexts, strengthening community support systems, and ensuring that humanitarian assistance is accessible to all.
What do you think is most important in supporting vulnerable populations in Somalia: inclusive service design, stronger community networks, or targeted assistance?