Background Qardho District in Bari Region is severely impacted by the ongoing drought in Puntland. According to the Protection and Solutions Monitoring Network (PSMN), around 919 households (approximately 5,514 people) from Qardho District and nearby villages have been displaced due to worsening drought conditions. Pastoral families are searching for water and grazing lands, moving toward Ceeriye and Walale valleys in Karkaar Region (within Qardho District), Bosaso District, and remote parts of Sanaag Region, specifically the rural areas of Yubbe and Ceergaabo. Some households have also migrated to Ethiopia’s Somali Regional State.

Due to the challenging mountainous terrain and long distances traveled, displaced households face increased risks of family separation, especially affecting children, elderly individuals, and people with disabilities. The influx of newly displaced families is straining already overcrowded displacement sites and host communities. In these affected areas, main water sources have mostly dried up, forcing communities to travel long distances to Qardho and Dhuure Juurile for water, which exposes them to additional protection concerns. Reduced funding has compelled many humanitarian organizations to reduce their activities in areas hosting internally displaced persons. Cash assistance has been halted since October, and in-kind support remains scarce. The lack of specialized protection services has further elevated protection risks within communities, making people more vulnerable to violence, abuse, and exploitation.