As Somalis flee to cities, Mogadishu becomes most crowded city in Africa

11 December 2018 - Conflict and natural disasters from 2017 – 2018 caused massive displacement to cities – says new report from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC).

“Somali families are fleeing to Mogadishu seeking shelter, protection and aid. With nowhere else to go, they crowd into camps that are unhealthy and unsafe. This influx has made Mogadishu the most densely populated city in Africa, with more people arriving every day,” said Evelyn Aero, Regional Adviser for Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC).

2.6 million people are displaced within Somalia. Drought, competition for resources and poor living conditions have fueled fighting in rural areas, and pushed people towards Mogadishu, says a new report from NRC’s Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. This has made Mogadishu the second most densely populated city in the world (after Dhaka) and the most densely populated city in Africa.

With resources overstretched, Somalia’s cities are unable to cope with the demands of their fast-growing populations, and the added arrivals of people fleeing crises in rural areas. Mogadishu has been their main destination by far. It is home to about 600,000 displaced people, most of whom live in informal camps. Between 2017 and mid-2018, 32 per cent of new displacements recorded in the country were to, or within, the capital Mogadishu.

Displaced Somalis in Mogadishu lack enough food, shelter, clean water and sanitation. This leaves them vulnerable to diseases and malnutrition. About 1.2 million children are projected to be malnourished in Somalia.

“Conflict and natural disasters force families to flee to cities. Many that flee fighting escape in a hurry, with just the clothes on their backs. They arrive in Mogadishu without shelter, food or any means to support their families. More aid is needed to ensure that these people have a safe place to stay, with enough basic humanitarian aid to survive,” said Aero.

The UN humanitarian aid appeal for Somalia for 2019 is set at US $1.5 billion. The international donor community is urged to scale up funding to respond to the crisis.

Notes to editors:

NRC has spokespersons in Nairobi and Geneva available for interviews.

Photos of displaced families in Somalia are available here: https://bit.ly/2zT5DJ2

Mogadishu is now the 2nd most densely populated city in the world (after Dhaka) and the most crowded city in Africa. Source: https://bit.ly/1ZY2lsR

The most recent population estimation of the Mogadishu region is 1.6 million, according to 2014 UNFPA report.

NRC programmes in Somalia include food security, livelihoods, water, sanitation, shelter, education and legal assistance. NRC has worked in Somalia since 2004.

For more information or interviews, please contact:

In Nairobi: Geno Teofilo, Regional Head of Communications

Email: geno.teofilo@nrc.no

Phone: +254 702 910 077

In Geneva: Frankie Parrish, Interim Head of Communications

Email: frankie.parrish@idmc.ch

Phone: +41 22 552 36 45

Global: Media hotline

Email: info@nrc.no

Phone: +47 905 62 329