By Abdullahi Lukman
Two consecutive years of severe drought are driving rising food insecurity and threatening pastoral livelihoods on Socotra, according to a recent assessment by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
The agency reported that prolonged dry conditions have left livestock and natural pastures under intense stress, worsening conditions for herding communities that depend heavily on rain-fed grazing.
Findings from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification analysis show that as grazing lands deteriorate, the number of people facing food insecurity has increased over the past year.
Although Socotra has largely remained insulated from the armed conflict affecting mainland Yemen and has experienced steady growth in tourism, its fragile ecosystem makes it highly vulnerable to climate shocks.
Since 2023, the island has recorded little to no rainfall or flooding, resulting in widespread pasture loss and shrinking water sources.
Vast grazing areas have turned barren, forcing herders to abandon dozens of villages in search of water and viable pasture.
Many families now travel up to 20 kilometers daily to sustain their livestock, intensifying displacement pressures and deepening food insecurity.
Even communities with water-harvesting tanks report near-total depletion due to limited storage capacity.
Technical experts stress the urgent need to expand water-harvesting systems and rehabilitate degraded pastures to stabilize livelihoods. FAO Yemen is addressing the crisis through its Global Environment Facility-funded project, which promotes climate adaptation and sustainable natural resource management.
Interventions include restoring rangelands, improving water infrastructure, and strengthening livestock management practices to enhance resilience among pastoral households.
Ebrahim AlQadasi, FAO Senior Water Resources Engineer, warned that water resource management on Socotra faces significant challenges and requires comprehensive improvements to adapt to climate change.
Local livestock farmer Hasan Lam Amer described the impact, saying herders are compelled to travel long distances daily to find grazing areas and drinking water for their animals.
FAO has called on donors and development partners to scale up investments in climate-resilient infrastructure, sustainable land management, and pastoral livelihood support to prevent further displacement, safeguard food security, and protect Socotra’s globally recognized biodiversity.
