{"id":5699,"date":"2026-05-08T23:46:44","date_gmt":"2026-05-08T23:46:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/en\/home\/6-million-face-famine-risk-in-somalia"},"modified":"2026-05-09T00:51:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-09T00:51:25","slug":"6-million-face-famine-risk-in-somalia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/en\/policy\/6-million-face-famine-risk-in-somalia","title":{"rendered":"6 Million Face Famine Risk in Somalia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press. <\/strong> <\/span>The World Food Programme has issued warnings about the risk of famine in Somalia due to a severe lack of international funding, ongoing effects of drought, conflict, and rising global prices.<\/p>\n

The United Nations program confirmed in a statement that the country is at risk of millions of people slipping into catastrophic levels of food insecurity, warning that humanitarian operations could cease entirely starting in July if urgent funding is not provided.<\/p>\n

Wide areas of Somalia are experiencing the effects of three consecutive failed rainy seasons, in one of the harshest drought waves to hit the country in recent years.<\/p>\n

These severe climatic conditions have led to the destruction of agricultural crops and the death of large numbers of livestock, which represent the primary source of income and food for millions of residents.<\/p>\n

During a week-long field visit, the Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme, Matthew Hollingworth, stated at a press conference on Friday that he witnessed communities suffering from a near-total collapse of living conditions, especially in Puntland, where water sources have completely dried up, and pressures on local markets have increased, while thousands of families have lost their ability to recover from previous crises.<\/p>\n

About six million people, nearly one-third of Somalia’s population, are facing acute hunger levels, including two million people who have reached the fourth stage of the international food security classification, which is the stage just before famine.<\/p>\n

The crisis of malnutrition among children is one of the most alarming aspects of the current humanitarian deterioration, with estimates from the World Food Programme indicating that around 1.9 million children are suffering from acute malnutrition, while hundreds of thousands are at risk of the most severe cases.<\/p>\n

At a health center near the city of Garowe, Hollingworth met with mothers who traveled hundreds of kilometers in search of food and treatment for their children after their livelihoods collapsed completely in their areas.<\/p>\n

One mother explained that she received treatment for her three-year-old child for only two months before being informed that no additional support was available due to funding shortages, leaving her facing an uncertain future amid a lack of food and healthcare.<\/p>\n

Relief officials noted that the number of functioning health centers in some areas has decreased from 12 centers last year to only three currently, while nutritional prevention programs have completely stopped, and only treatment for critical cases is now available.<\/p>\n

In addition to the drought, conflict and insecurity continue to hinder the delivery of humanitarian aid to the most affected areas, as well as limit trade and essential supplies within the country.<\/p>\n

At the same time, regional and international disruptions have contributed to increasing economic pressures on Somalia.<\/p>\n

According to the World Food Programme, the repercussions of the crisis in the Middle East have led to food prices rising by up to 70% in some areas, while fuel prices have increased by about 150%, making aid delivery operations more costly and complicated.<\/p>\n

These combined factors have driven thousands of families to flee to major cities, especially the capital Mogadishu, in search of food, water, and humanitarian assistance.<\/p>\n

Despite the widening scope of the crisis, humanitarian organizations are facing a severe funding shortfall, forcing them to significantly reduce their operations.<\/p>\n

The World Food Programme explained that the number of beneficiaries receiving assistance has decreased from over two million people last year to a very limited number currently, indicating that the program now reaches only one in ten people in need of food support.<\/p>\n

The program warned that continued decline could lead to a complete halt of its operations in July if international donors do not intervene urgently.<\/p>\n

UN officials reminded of what happened in 2022 when Somalia was on the brink of famine due to severe drought before rapid international intervention succeeded in averting disaster.<\/p>\n

The World Food Programme asserts that current indicators closely resemble the conditions preceding the 2022 crisis, whether in terms of failed rains or rising hunger and mass displacement.<\/p>\n

However, the difference this time is the decline in global humanitarian funding at a time when international crises and competition for relief resources are increasing.<\/p>\n

The World Food Programme has called on the international community to take immediate action to prevent a large-scale humanitarian disaster, emphasizing that famine is not inevitable but can be prevented with prompt response and adequate funding.<\/p>\n

The program noted that it has the logistical infrastructure and expertise necessary to implement a wide response, including registering about 1.7 million people in cash transfer programs, but the continuation of operations is contingent upon the provision of urgent financial resources.<\/p>\n

Find more news and analyses on Africa<\/span> on the Africa Press<\/span> website<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press. The World Food Programme has issued warnings about the risk of famine in Somalia due to a severe lack of international funding, ongoing effects of drought, conflict, and rising global prices. The United Nations program confirmed in a statement that the country is at risk of millions of people slipping into catastrophic levels of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":5698,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40],"tags":[120],"class_list":{"0":"post-5699","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-policy","8":"tag-africa"},"yoast_head":"\n6 Million Face Famine Risk in Somalia - Africa Press English<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"-article-header-tag"> Africa-Press. 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