Experiences of accessing water services in water scarce displacement settings: A case study of internally displaced people and host communities in Hargeisa, Somaliland

Population displacement is a growing global crisis, with many displaced people moving to areas already experiencing water scarcity. Yet, little is known about the specific experiences of displaced people, particularly regarding water access. Internally displaced people (IDPs) are frequently conceptualised as a homogenous group, whereas this study compares three distinct IDP groups (assimilated, isolated and marginalised) and their host community in Hargeisa, Somaliland. Using interviews and focus groups with 106 participants we find that water services and support vary markedly between groups: marginalised groups and those relocated to isolated sites received more support compared with assimilated groups. It also showed that IDPs had a limited role in processes that affect their access to water services. The importance of host community acceptance is emphasised. The perceptions of IDPs and host communities about the impact of displacement on water services provides valuable insights into how these services may be disrupted or improved. This paper also highlights the impact of informal services such as irregular pricing structures and contributes novel perspectives on how these services exacerbate access inequalities and economic burdens for vulnerable communities. These findings advance understanding by moving beyond the tendency to treat IDPs as a homogenous group or to focus on single sites. The study provides new insights for engineers and policymakers into how relocation processes, host community acceptance, and market dynamics shape water service provision in displacement contexts.