Food Insecurity, Gender, and Transnational Social Obligations among Somali Refugees during the COVID-19 Crisis in Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada

This paper examines food insecurity among Somali refugees in Kitchener-Waterloo, Canada, during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on the interplay among livelihood disruption, gendered care, and transnational obligations. Using a mixed-methods design, it draws on a household survey of 39 Somali refugee households and 20 in-depth interviews, combining standard measures of food access and diet with qualitative accounts of household decision-making. Results show that more than four-fifths of surveyed households experienced food insecurity. Participants reported that job loss, reduced hours, rising food and housing costs, and fixed incomes constrained household budgets, while regular remittances to relatives abroad remained an ongoing obligation. Women were primarily responsible for foodwork and unpaid care, while men described stress linked to disrupted provider roles. Chronic illness, disability, and mental strain further shaped vulnerability. At the same time, faith-based practices and community networks supported coping and helped maintain dietary diversity despite reduced quantities. The paper argues that food insecurity during COVID-19 reflects not only material scarcity but also the interplay of structural constraints and transnational responsibilities, and concludes that responses must be culturally grounded, gender-aware, and attentive to transnational livelihoods.