Somalia: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (January - December 2024) - As of 22 January 2025
Humanitarian access in Somalia remained a significant challenge in 2024, with 243 access incidents reported — a 35% reduction compared to 376 incidents recorded in 2023. The decrease is primarily attributed to a sharp decline in physical environment-related incidents (91 reported in 2023 versus 15 in 2024). In 2023, El Niño-induced floods caused widespread infrastructure damage, contributing to the higher number of reported incidents. On a positive note, restrictions on the movement of organisations’ personnel or goods within the country declined from 74 to 31 incidents, while restrictions on or obstruction of conflict-affected peoples’ access to services and assistance decreased from 47 to 28 incidents compared to the previous year.
However, violence against humanitarian personnel, assets, and facilities rose sharply, with 67 incidents reported compared to 47 in 2023—a 45% spike. Though not directly targeted due to their status as humanitarians, five aid workers lost their lives, while 16 sustained injuries. Additionally, eight aid workers were abducted but later released through clan negotiations, while seven vehicles/trucks affiliated with humanitarian organisations were carjacked, some of which involved looting humanitarian supplies. Interference in the implementation of humanitarian activities remained a persistent challenge (70 incidents were recorded in 2024 versus 87 in 2023), often leading to the suspension of critical operations and programs. Persistent violence and interference, combined with the existing general insecurity and bureaucratic impediments, continued to hinder the ability of humanitarian partners to move around and access affected populations.
Military operations and ongoing hostilities further disrupted aid delivery, with 28 incidents reported in 2024 compared to 27 in 2023. A significant number of these incidents involved clan-related violence, resulting in casualties either as unintended victims of hostilities or as casualties of clan revenge. These hostilities often forced the postponement, relocation, or cancellation of critical missions and activities and the adoption of alternative delivery methods in certain areas.