The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Friday warned its emergency food assistance in Somalia will be forced to halt by April without immediate funding, putting millions at risk as the country faces a severe drought and deepening hunger crisis.
A quarter of the population, 4.4 million people, are facing crisis-levels of food insecurity, the WFP said.
This warning follows the declaration of a national drought emergency, triggered by severe water shortages, crop and livestock losses, and large‑scale displacement – conditions reminiscent of the 2022 crisis when famine was narrowly averted thanks to large-scale international support.
Somalia is facing one of the most complex hunger crises in recent years, driven by two consecutive failed rainy seasons, conflict, and a sharp drop in humanitarian funding. A quarter of the population – 4.4 million people – face crisis-levels of food insecurity or worse (IPC3+), including nearly one million women, men, and children experiencing severe hunger.
“The situation is deteriorating at an alarming rate. Families have lost everything, and many are already being pushed to the brink. Without immediate emergency food support, conditions will worsen quickly,” said Ross Smith, WFP Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response. “We are at the cusp of a decisive moment; without urgent action, we may be unable to reach the most vulnerable in time, most of them women and children.”
WFP is the largest humanitarian agency in Somalia, working alongside partners to support the majority of the country’s food security response. In 2022, the longest drought in recorded history brought Somalia to the brink of famine. In response, with critical support from donors, partners and the government, WFP launched a robust scale up of life-saving assistance. Working together, we reached record numbers of the most vulnerable, helping keep famine at bay. WFP has the teams on the ground and capacity to push back extreme hunger again.
ANN/WFP
