Since 2021, Somalia has faced its worst drought in decades, worsened by five consecutive failed rainy seasons. Over 1.3 million people have been forced to leave their homes in search of food and safety. Many have settled in crowded informal sites in urban areas, including the town of Dollow in the Gedo region, which has long served as a refuge due to available aid, fertile land along the Jubba River, and its relatively secure location near the Ethiopian border.

For years, informal settlements have offered quick, temporary shelter for families displaced by climate shocks and conflict. Residents often build makeshift homes from clothing, wood, and other local materials. However, these sites do not address the root causes of displacement and lack adequate space, services, secure land tenure, and proper infrastructure. As a result, residents face risks such as eviction, flooding, disease outbreaks, and fire hazards.

To create long-term solutions, communities, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and partners worked with local authorities and displaced families in reconfiguring and upgrading settlement conditions, helping affected populations restart their lives.

Photos, text and booklet design from IOM Somalia 2023.