GBV AoR Somalia EL Nino Preparedness & Response Plan

Amidst escalating gender-based violence (GBV) linked to armed conflicts and inter-clan strife, the impending El Nino event threatens to have devastating consequences on the lives of women and girls. It is poised to worsen feminized poverty, restrict physical freedom and educational opportunities, deplete female-headed households' incomes, and disrupt essential health and social services for pregnant and lactating women. Vulnerable populations, such as women from minority clans and those with disabilities in high-risk areas, will face heightened disadvantages as service accessibility declines, and humanitarian aid becomes scarcer due to reduced funding. In response to these challenges, urgent action and resource mobilization are required, but limited funding poses a significant obstacle. The increased risk of GBV, sexual exploitation, and harassment is anticipated as displaced women and girls become more food insecure during severe flooding, potentially leading to negative coping mechanisms and an upsurge in intimate partner violence. The GBV AoR also has effective coordination platforms in the locations that will be impacted by Flooding – Hirshabelle, Jubbaland, South-west state (SWS), and Galmudug.