On 19 August 2025, the Somali Disability Network (SDN) marked World Humanitarian Day in Mogadishu. The commemoration brought together 14 organizations from Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs) alongside representatives from Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). The event served as a platform to reflect on humanitarian challenges in Somalia, with a particular focus on the situation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), who continue to experience exclusion in humanitarian aid and recovery programs.
Participants discussed the overall humanitarian situation in Somalia, emphasizing how PWDs remain among the most vulnerable groups, especially those living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps. Speakers highlighted that PWDs are frequently excluded from food aid distribution, cash voucher humanitarian programs, and non-food item (NFI) assistance. Such exclusion deepens their poverty, limits access to survival needs, and undermines their dignity.
The discussions further underscored the systemic exclusion of PWDs from livelihood opportunities, including access to investment funds and development programs. Women and girls with disabilities were recognized as facing compounded risks, including neglect, heightened vulnerability to Gender-Based Violence (GBV), and other forms of violence against women (VAW). It was noted that the lack of inclusive humanitarian planning continues to perpetuate these inequalities, leaving PWDs on the margins of response efforts.
The event concluded with a collective call for inclusive humanitarian action in Somalia. Participants urged humanitarian actors, government agencies, and donors to mainstream disability inclusion in all emergency and development responses. Recommendations included ensuring accessible aid distribution mechanisms, integrating PWDs in cash and voucher systems, prioritizing women and girls with disabilities in protection programs, and strengthening partnerships with DPOs for accountability. The World Humanitarian Day event reaffirmed the commitment of SDN and its partners to advocate for
the rights and dignity of PWDs in Somalia’s humanitarian response.
