Somalia’s humanitarian crisis worsening with 6.5 million people facing high levels of hunger, Federal Government & United Nations warn | FAO News

Joint News Release

Mogadishu – Nearly 6.5 million Somalis face high levels of hunger, & more than 1.8 million children face acute malnutrition due to worsening drought, the Somali government & UN agencies have warned in a new report. 

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report indicates that a third of the population – 6.5 million people – are expected to face crisis levels of hunger or worse (IPC 3 & 4) by March, an increase of 1.7 million people since January. 

This includes two million individuals experiencing severe hunger (IPC 4). More than 1.8 million children under five will also face acute malnutrition in 2026, almost half a million of them likely to be severely malnourished. The drought is also having a devastating effect on agriculture, with widespread crop & livestock losses in addition to large scale displacements of people. 

“The drought emergency in Somalia has deepened alarmingly, with soaring water prices, limited food supplies, dying livestock, & very little humanitarian funding,” said George Conway, Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia. “Urgent life-saving assistance is essential to save lives & prevent a collapse of pastoral & farming livelihoods, as the coming months are critical with no rains expected at least until the next Gu rains in April-June.” 

Humanitarian needs remain immense, with current assistance addressing only the most basic survival requirements after critical funding shortfalls have left aid agencies with no choice but to reduce rations & the number of people who are able to be assisted with life-saving support, including food, nutrition, health, & water & sanitation.   

Although the Gu rains expected between April & June 2026 may provide some relief, the situation will remain critical, the Food & Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Programme (WFP), & the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA) warned on Tuesday. 

The country’s food security situation is deteriorating at an alarming rate because of prolonged dry conditions. Intensified drought has triggered widespread food insecurity, mass displacements, crop failures, livestock losses, rising food prices, & disrupted livelihoods, the report says. It indicates that food security & malnutrition rates are expected to deteriorate rapidly until the end of March 2026 with two million people classified as living in Emergency conditions (IPC Phase 4). 

“The severity of this drought is undeniable & deeply alarming,” said Mohamud Moallim Abdulle, the Commissioner of the Somalia Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA). “Millions of our people are facing crisis levels of hunger, with many families already in emergency conditions, & an unprecedented number of children suffering from acute malnutrition. Somalia is once again at a critical crossroads as climate shocks, displacement, & declining humanitarian funding push vulnerable communities beyond their coping capacity. The tragic loss of lives in Bardhere today is a stark reminder that behind this crisis are real families in distress. We urgently call on international partners, the Somali diaspora, businesses, & civil society to scale up immediate support. SoDMA remains fully committed to strengthening coordination, enhancing transparency, & ensuring the most efficient & accountable use of the limited resources available. Together, through collective action & shared responsibility, we can save lives & protect livelihoods before conditions deteriorate further.” 

The drought is attributable to below-average rainfall during the Deyr season (October-December 2025) combined with current dry Jilaal season (from January to March). The effects of the drought on crops & livestock can be seen by figures which show that the Deyr season cereal harvest in southern Somalia is 83 percent lower than the long-term average from 1995 to 2025, while livestock conception & birth rates across the country are much lower than normal. 

Both the UN & the Somali government warned that substantial funding cuts have compelled humanitarian partners to scale back or suspend critical lifesaving programmes, including food security, health, nutrition, & water & sanitation interventions. The funding cuts come as humanitarian needs remain immense, with current assistance addressing only the most basic survival requirements. 

Childhood illness remains high across the country, with limited access to health & nutrition services & outbreaks of cholera, measles, & diphtheria in the southern & central regions of the country. 

While aid agencies in the country have the capacity & expertise to mount a comprehensive response & turn the tide of the worsening humanitarian situation, they are constrained by funding shortfalls. 

Note to editors 

The Government & the UN urge donors to act urgently to scale up life-saving assistance & protect the most vulnerable communities, by: 

• Urgently scaling up life-saving humanitarian food assistance & malnutrition prevention & treatment.
• Expanding social safety nets, shock-responsive social protection, & human development programmes.
• Enhancing Early Warning & Anticipatory Action as a cost-effective way to mitigate the impact of predictable food  shocks.
• Adopting a multi-sector approach by linking food security, nutrition, health, & WASH programmes to address underlying causes of malnutrition.
• In 2026, the funding requirement to continue providing life-saving assistance to the most vulnerable people in Somalia is $852 million. Sustained & flexible funding is critical to meet identified humanitarian needs, prevent further deterioration, & protect life-saving gains.