1.7 million children in Somalia at risk of severe malnutrition, report warns
As the drought continues to threaten lives and livelihoods, the international community is being urged to step up and provide the necessary support to prevent another catastrophic crisis in Somalia.
New data from Somalia reveals that 4.4 million people could face hunger by April 2025 due to a combination of escalating drought conditions, ongoing conflict, and soaring food prices.
Among those, 1.7 million children under the age of five will face acute malnutrition through December 2025, with 466,000 suffering from severe acute malnutrition, a 9 per cent increase from last year.
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The majority of these cases are concentrated in southern Somalia, where drought and insecurity are most severe.
"Children are the most affected, facing not only malnutrition but also diseases that heighten the risk of death and long-term developmental issues," Nisar Syed, United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Somalia Representative Officer in Charge said.
Call to action
Somalia, alongside the United Nations agency, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), has issued an urgent call for increased funding for humanitarian efforts, warning that without sufficient financial support, the country could see another deepening food crisis.
In 2022, Somalia was pushed to the brink of famine by severe drought, which led to thousands of deaths, half of them children.
Now, the latest report highlights that 3.4 million people are already experiencing critical levels of hunger, and this number is expected to rise to 4.4 million (23 per cent of the population) by mid-2025, with below-average rainfall projected.
The Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), in partnership with FAO, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), UNICEF and the World Food Programme (WFP), has raised the alarm about the dire situation.
"The worsening drought poses a severe threat to communities already grappling with immense hardship," Mohamuud Moallim, Commissioner of SoDMA said.
"This crisis is compounded by conflict and a historic decline in humanitarian funding. Immediate action is needed to save lives and protect the most vulnerable."
The crisis has disproportionately impacted households with low agricultural yields, internally displaced persons (IDPs), and pastoralists struggling with depleted livestock and low income.
The FAO has responded by scaling up agricultural support, promoting climate-smart solutions, and strengthening resilient food systems.
However, acute funding shortages have led to cuts in life-saving programmes, making it increasingly difficult for aid agencies to meet the most pressing needs.
The United Nations is urgently calling for $1.42 billion in funding to address the country's humanitarian needs, but with only 12.4 per cent of the target funded, critical aid programmes are being cut at a time when the situation is growing dire.
As the drought continues to threaten lives and livelihoods, the international community is being urged to step up and provide the necessary support to prevent another catastrophic crisis in Somalia.
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