Thousands flee yearslong drought in Somalia as hunger deepens and aid shrinks
BAIDOA, Somalia (AP) — After nearly two weeks on the road with her five children, Luul Mohamed finally arrived in the southwestern Somali city of Baidoa with no food and little sense of what would happen next. Drought conditions…
In Somalia, a severe humanitarian crisis is unfolding as prolonged drought, conflict, and economic challenges force families to flee their homes. Luul Mohamed, from Saakoow in the Middle Jubba region, left with her five children, traveling 300 kilometers to reach the city of Baidoa. They joined a growing number of displaced individuals, many facing starvation and uncertain futures.
"We are very hungry and in a desperate situation," Mohamed lamented, placing all hope in God. The family's plight illustrates the worsening emergency, with 2 million people now facing emergency food insecurity, more than double last year's figures. Plan International reports assistance to over 200,000 people this year, but international aid is dwindling.
The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization warns of a 90% chance of El Nino conditions developing by mid-2026, intensifying Somalia's risk of flooding during the upcoming rainy season.
Written by urgent.news from Associated Press's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
