UN warns of 30% surge in hunger crisis in Somalia by June
The study report says 3.4 million people are already experiencing crisis levels, or higher, of hunger in Somalia, and the number is projected to rise to 4.4 million (23 per cent of the population) between April and June 2025.
Somalia risks having an additional one million people facing hunger in a period of three months, April to June 2025, if humanitarian actions such as funding are not properly addressed.
This is according to a study by United Nations agencies: Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), the UN World Food Programme (WFP) in conjunction with the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA).
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The study report says 3.4 million people are already experiencing crisis levels, or higher, of hunger in Somalia, and the number is projected to rise to 4.4 million (23 per cent of the population), between April and June 2025.
This represents a 29.4 per cent surge in the crisis.
The stakeholders attribute the prospect to worsening drought conditions, conflict and high food prices.
"Worsening drought poses a severe threat to communities already grappling with immense hardship and ongoing conflict. Urgent action is required to save lives, protect livelihoods and prevent further suffering," said SoDMA commissioner Mohamuud Moallim.
"This time, we are not only confronting the devastating impacts of drought but also compounding risks, including conflict and an unprecedented decline in humanitarian funding. These overlapping crises demand immediate, collective and well-coordinated action to strengthen Somalia's resilience and safeguard our most vulnerable communities."
Notably, the hardest-hit households include those with low agricultural yields who have depleted their food stocks, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and pastoralists with limited livestock and below-average earnings from livestock sales.
On his part, FAO representative in Somalia, Etienne Peterschmitt, said the worsening drought, erratic rainfall and ongoing conflict are eroding livelihoods, pushing families deeper into crisis.
The update also highlights a sharp rise in malnutrition rates among children under five, with the number of affected children projected to reach 1.7 million by December.
Severe acute malnutrition
Of those, the report says 466,000 face severe acute malnutrition, an increase of nine per cent compared to the same period last year.
Nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) of the total malnutrition burden is concentrated in southern Somalia, where drought conditions and insecurity are the worst, the report reads in part.
"Past climate events demonstrate that children are the most affected, facing severe malnourishment and diseases that increase their risk of death and long-term developmental issues," said Nisar Syed, Unicef Somalia representative officer in charge.
"Given the recurring nature of these crises, we must emphasize a multi-sector approach while working with all stakeholders and the government to invest in resilience, anticipatory action and a robust health system."
The report findings also confirm that erratic rainfall in 2024 led to low crop yields, rapid depletion of pasture and water sources, flooding of food crops, and displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.
With a joint call to action, the stakeholders noted that the acute funding shortfalls have resulted in life-saving programmes being reduced or cut altogether.
They call for more urgent funding to scale up food assistance, nutrition support, water and sanitation services, as well as livelihood initiatives to mitigate the impacts of the expected drought.
Data shows the 2025 Somalia Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, calling for $1.42 billion, is only 12.4 per cent funded.
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