Multi-causal displacement in the horn of Africa

Core Responsibility 3 of the Agenda for Humanity calls for a new approach to reduce displacement; one that addresses humanitarian needs while also improving resilience and self-reliance. To achieve this, the range of factors that influence displacement must be understood. In the Horn of Africa, displacement is large-scale and complex due to multiple interrelated and compounding factors: conflict and violence; sudden-onset hazards such as floods, fires or earthquakes; and slow-onset disasters such as drought. In 2016, there were at least 6.7 million people internally displaced due to conflict and violence in the region; while 600,000 people were displaced by sudden-onset hazards, primarily floods. These figures fail to fully capture the extent of slow-onset disaster-induced displacement, as the human impacts of drought and the effect of climate change remain difficult to quantify and measure. The diagram below showcases the combined effect of climate change and conflict on pastoralist livelihoods. For pastoralists in the Horn of Africa, slow-onset disasters—such as droughts—are exacerbated by the effect of climate change, which in turn increases competition for land and resources and can trigger violence and conflict that further increase communities’ vulnerability to the impacts of natural hazards. The livelihoods of pastoralists, and similar communities, are shaped by adequate grazing areas for livestock, market access and their human security, such as freedom of movement. Pastoralists resort to leaving their areas of habitual residence when these factors make it impossible to pursue their livelihoods.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Zero Hunger

Gender Equality

Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions