Deciphering climate-induced displacement in Somalia: A remote sensing perspective

factor not always reflected in data collected by the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC). Fig 2A presents the population density across Somalia, using a granular 100 × 100-meter grid square. Detailed views are shown around (a) Hargeisa, (b) Bosaso, and (c) Mogadishu. In Fig 2B, shows the distribution of two primary rivers in Somalia refers as breadbasket of Soma- lia with irrigated agriculture land producing Somalia food production. Shebelle, spanning the central areas, and Juba, crossing the southern regions of the country. The land cover of Soma- lia, as depicted by the European Space Agency (ESA) under the Africa land cover project in 2016, is represented in Fig 2C. Lastly, Fig 2D illustrates the proportion of population of each region displaced from their homes to other regions due to environmental factors. The IDP data was acquired from United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC). This map gener- ated by aggregating the percentage of the population of each region displaced due to flood and drought between 2016 and 2019. These aggregate figures provide a macroscopic overview of Somalia’s severe and erratic climatic conditions and the resultant human responses, often marked by difficult decisions to abandon their livelihoods. However, these annual figures inad- equately elucidate the rapidly changing yet gradually evolving environmental dynamics and their indirect and direct impacts on human lives. Migration decisions can manifest both as an immediate reaction to disasters or a longer-term choice stemming from recurring environ-

mental degradation and bleak long-term prospects. Given the diversity in individuals’ responses to similar circumstances, dictated by their physical and economic limitations and their perception of short to long-term risks, it is challenging to discern the degree to which these movements contribute to the continuum of displacement. Thus, more time-sensitive environmental indicators can provide valuable insights into the relationship between climate alterations and internal displacement. The scope of our study, delineated by the bold-blue line in Fig 2D, encompasses regions sig- nificantly affected by adverse climatic conditions, resulting in internal displacement. Criteria Fig 2. Maps of Somalia. a. The population density map across Somalia; b. Map of the major rivers in Somalia; c. Land- cover map of Somalia; d. The proportion of the population displaced across Somalia at regional level between 2016 and 2019. The extent coordinates for Somalia: WGS 84 (EPSG:4326) are 41, -1.7 to 51.4, 12. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0304202.g002 PLOS ONE Deciphering Climate-induced Displacement in Somalia: A Remote Sensing Perspective PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0304202 August 9, 2024 4 / 27