Somalia, which narrowly avoided famine in 2022 due to increased humanitarian aid, is once again facing a severe hunger crisis. The World Food Programme (WFP) reports that 3.4 million people are already acutely food insecure, a number expected to rise to 4.4 million between April and June—nearly a quarter of the country’s population.
The crisis is driven by consecutive failed harvests, climate shocks, and dwindling water sources, exacerbating food shortages and malnutrition.
WFP warns that 1.26 million children under five require urgent support, with 466,000 at risk of severe acute malnutrition and potential death. The organization stresses that delays in aid could be catastrophic and calls on international donors to increase funding.
Chronic underfunding has already forced WFP to scale back assistance, including school feeding programs. With Somalia’s humanitarian appeal only 12% funded, WFP emphasizes the urgent need for resources to prevent widespread famine and mitigate the worsening crisis.
