Somalia is facing a severe food crisis, with 4.4 million people at risk of famine by April 2025, according to a joint warning from the Somali government and UN agencies. Worsening drought, coupled with ongoing conflict and a drastic decline in humanitarian funding, are pushing the country towards a critical situation.
“Worsening drought poses a severe threat to communities already grappling with immense hardship and ongoing conflict,” said Mohamuud Moallim, Commissioner of the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA). He emphasized the need for “immediate, collective, and well-coordinated action” to prevent further suffering.
The warning, issued alongside agencies like the FAO, OCHA, UNICEF, and WFP, highlights the expected increase in food insecurity due to below-average rainfall. Currently, 3.4 million Somalis are already experiencing crisis-level hunger.
A critical funding shortfall is exacerbating the crisis. Somalia’s 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan, requiring $1.42 billion, has only received 12.4% of its funding. This has led to the reduction or elimination of life-saving programs.
The situation evokes memories of the 2022 famine, which caused thousands of deaths, particularly among children. The agencies are calling for urgent scaling up of food assistance, nutrition support, water and sanitation services, and livelihood initiatives to avert a similar disaster.