Somalia’s Humanitarian Trap: Official Calls for Shift in Aid Approach
Somalia is stuck in a "humanitarian trap," with a generation of "undignifying" emergency relief leading to the "slow death" of the people receiving it, according to Abdihakim Ainte, a top official working on climate change in Somalia’s government.
In a scathing interview with The New Humanitarian, Ainte slammed the "perpetual dependence" caused by humanitarian organizations in Somalia, and the money they spend without coordinating with the government. He called for the billions of dollars in humanitarian aid spent in the country each year to be redirected to government coffers to be used for longer-term development programming.
Ainte’s remarks echo a growing chorus of disaffection with traditional humanitarian approaches among Global South governments, communities affected by crises, and aid workers themselves. However, his call to steer donor funding from humanitarian actors to Somalia’s government has been met with skepticism by some, who warn that it could lead to "unimaginable suffering" and corruption in a country that has repeatedly endured conflicts, dire food insecurity, and environmental disasters.
Somalia has been plagued by humanitarian crises for decades, with the country’s government struggling to provide basic services to its people. The UN-led response plan for Somalia estimated that 6.9 million people will need relief this year, with 4.8 million of them requiring nutritional assistance.
Ainte, who was appointed as director of climate change and food security in the office of Somalia’s prime minister in April, said that humanitarian aid has become a "slippery slope" that has created a "dependency syndrome on the most vulnerable people." He argued that aid has become a "waiting game," with everyone waiting for the next disaster to strike, rather than working towards long-term solutions.
The official suggested that Somalia’s government should take the lead in responding to crises, rather than relying on humanitarian organizations. He praised the World Bank, which has invested $2.3 billion in Somalia since 2020, and called for similar support from other donors.
However, Mohamed Mubarak, executive director of Marqaati, a Mogadishu-based NGO focused on anti-corruption, warned that redirecting humanitarian funding to the government could lead to "rampant corruption and mismanagement" in Somalia.
Ainte acknowledged that some agencies and donors are skeptical of his proposal, but argued that accountability must be a two-way street. He said that a "candid" conversation is ongoing with humanitarian organizations working in Somalia.
The debate highlights the complex and contentious issues surrounding humanitarian aid in Somalia, where the need for emergency relief is often at odds with the need for long-term development and resilience. As the country struggles to recover from decades of conflict and crisis, the question remains: what is the best way to support Somalia’s people, and what are the consequences of getting it wrong?