Somalia 'coming close to another famine' - UNICEF

Somalia is grappling with a worsening hunger crisis, exacerbated by consecutive failed rainy seasons, devastating crops, killing livestock and depleting water supplies. The federal government is already battling a 20-year-old insurgency by the al Shabaab militant group and clashing with state governments. In February, the Somali government and the United Nations reported that 6.5 million people in the country faced acute hunger due to drought.

UNICEF's James Elder warns that Somalia is nearing another famine, citing multiple climate shocks and widespread conflict. Over 500,000 people were displaced in Somalia in the first three months of 2026, primarily women and children. Hunger and displacement revive fears of a repeat of Somalia's near-famine in 2022, but aid agencies fear the response is being hampered by severe funding cuts.

Funding to combat acute malnutrition in Somalia has plummeted by more than 80% this year, with the United States reducing its support from $70 million to zero. Aid groups are scrambling to respond to a surge in nutrition cases, with MSF admitting 22,000 cases this year, an 80% increase from last year. Despite the urgent need, donor support has dwindled dramatically, with only $300 million available for Somalia compared to $2.2 billion in 2022.

MSF's Allara Ali emphasizes that immediate action is required to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.