Garowe, Somalia – In the remote village of Dalsan, 130 kilometers from Garowe in Somalia’s Puntland State, a humanitarian emergency is unfolding as the community’s only dam has dried up after years of successive droughts linked to climate change.

For hundreds of families, the dam was once a lifeline—storing precious rainwater that sustained livestock, agriculture, and household needs. Today, its cracked, barren floor is a grim reminder of how worsening climate shocks are reshaping life in rural Somalia.

Among those affected is Barlim Mohamed Ali Sahal, a mother of four, who now depends on water brought by tankers from nearly 100 kilometers away. Each delivery costs about $150, a crippling sum for families already struggling with food insecurity and dwindling livelihoods.

“The dam was our hope. Without it, every day is a battle to find enough water for our children and animals,” Barlim told local reporters.

The crisis is emblematic of the broader struggle facing communities across the Horn of Africa, where prolonged droughts—punctuated by sporadic floods—have displaced millions and destroyed agricultural systems. In Puntland, where pastoralism and small-scale farming are the backbone of survival, the drying of water reservoirs has forced families into debt and deepened dependency on aid.

Local leaders warn that without urgent support, the situation in Dalsan could spiral further. The Puntland administration has appealed for emergency assistance, including subsidized water trucking, investment in boreholes, and long-term climate adaptation projects.

Experts say that while emergency relief is essential, the solution must also address resilience.

For now, families continue to ration every drop, caught between the high cost of water tankers and the fear of losing the last of their livestock. As the sun sets over the empty dam, Dalsan’s residents are left waiting—not for rain alone, but for sustained action that can secure their survival in an increasingly uncertain climate.