More than 22,000 people—including over 11,000 children—have been forced to flee their homes in Mahaas district, central Somalia, amid escalating clashes that have left thousands without access to essential services, the NGO Save the Children reported on August 8.
The violence in the Hiraan region, fueled by confrontations between local militias, government forces, and non-state armed groups, has intensified sharply over the past two months.
A dramatic surge in fighting since July 27 alone displaced over 22,800 residents in Mahaas, with children comprising more than half of those affected.
Displaced families are seeking refuge in nearby villages, where they live under extreme strain with host communities, or are enduring harsh conditions in open pastures, often deprived of basic necessities.
Save the Children expressed deep concern over the suspension of 21 health facilities it supports across the region—including a vital stabilization center for children suffering from severe acute malnutrition.
“Medical staff have fled conflict zones, leaving vulnerable families and children without critical care,” the NGO said.
As violence escalated, over 150 children receiving treatment for malnutrition fled with their families to safer towns such as Bulo Burte and Beledweyne. Save the Children’s teams are actively working to locate these children and resume their care.
The ongoing conflict has also damaged water infrastructure, hindered road access, and aggravated food insecurity. Many families have lost access to pastures, markets, and clean drinking water, compounding their hardship.
Women, children, and other vulnerable groups face inadequate shelter and profound psychological distress. Alarmingly, reports indicate a rising trend in the recruitment of young boys by armed factions on both sides of the conflict.
Over the past two months, fighting in central and southern Somalia has displaced nearly 100,000 people across the Hiraan and Gedo regions, straining already scarce local resources including shelter, food, clean water, and healthcare.
Save the Children highlighted that this crisis compounds the effects of a prolonged drought that has sharply increased malnutrition rates. Additionally, cuts to humanitarian funding have forced the closure of 32 medical facilities in Hiraan earlier this year, further depriving children of life-saving health services.
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