MOGADISHU — At least 31 people were killed and dozens injured in northern Somalia last week as drought-induced competition over water and grazing land sparked intense inter-clan fighting.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) confirmed the death toll on Monday, warning of a burgeoning humanitarian crisis.
The clashes, which occurred in the Laashimo Valley between May 6 and 7, have displaced roughly 9,000 people. According to UN situation reports, 85% of those fleeing the violence are women and children.
“The scale and intensity of the violence created widespread fear among pastoral communities,” the UNHCR said in a statement.
“Ongoing drought conditions have intensified competition over scarce resources, fueling long-standing tensions and revenge killings.”
The Puntland regional government deployed forces to the area on May 9 to establish a military base and de-escalate the situation. Traditional elders are reportedly leading mediation efforts, but the “tense and unstable” security environment has hampered the delivery of aid.
The violence in the north contrasts with the federal government’s focus on the south, where operations against Al-Shabaab militants continue. However, the Laashimo clashes serve as a reminder that climate change and resource scarcity remain as much of a threat to Somali stability as political insurgency.
