Children in Somalia are facing a catastrophic hunger crisis after four consecutive failed rainy seasons have devastated crops and livestock, leaving families with almost no food reserves. According to Save the Children, the coming months are critical to prevent avoidable child deaths as drought conditions intensify during the harsh dry season between January and March. The Federal Government of Somalia declared a drought emergency in November 2025, underscoring the severity of the situation.
A recent needs assessment conducted across six regions found that food insecurity has reached extreme levels. Around 90 percent of households are experiencing poor food consumption, indicating near-total exhaustion of food reserves. In regions such as Benadir and Galgadud, the vast majority of families lack adequate diets, placing children at imminent risk of severe malnutrition. Only a very small fraction of households are able to meet basic nutritional needs.
The crisis is also disrupting education, as families struggle to survive. In southern and central Somalia, many children are being withdrawn from school due to migration, food shortages, and the need to search for livelihoods. Thousands of children have already dropped out, further increasing their vulnerability and long-term risks.
Families are resorting to extreme coping strategies to survive, including skipping meals, reducing portion sizes, and selling remaining assets such as livestock and tools. In several regions, households have lost nearly all their animals, cutting off essential sources of milk, meat, and income. Many families are arriving at displacement camps with no food, livestock, or basic household items.
The humanitarian situation is being worsened by significant funding cuts, which have sharply reduced food assistance and forced the closure of hundreds of health and nutrition facilities. Millions of vulnerable people have lost access to essential services, including health care and protection. Nationwide, millions are projected to face crisis-level hunger, and nearly two million children under the age of five are expected to suffer acute malnutrition through mid-2026.
Save the Children warns that the crisis represents a grave failure to protect Somalia’s most vulnerable children and families. The organization is urging the international community to urgently increase humanitarian funding, prioritize nutrition and health services, and invest in long-term resilience to help communities withstand future climate shocks. Despite funding challenges, Save the Children continues to deliver life-saving assistance, including nutrition, health, water, and child protection services across affected regions.
