At Villa Somalia, the UK Minister, Baroness Chapman, met with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud to discuss the escalating drought crisis in Somalia and its impact on vulnerable communities. Baroness Chapman highlighted the UK’s approach of moving from traditional aid to an investment-driven development partnership, aimed at strengthening Somali resilience, supporting economic opportunities, reducing vulnerability to climate shocks, and discouraging irregular migration. She also acknowledged the Federal Government of Somalia’s critical leadership in coordinating drought responses and emphasized the importance of continued collaboration between the UK and Somalia to address urgent needs.
The Minister praised the Somali Government’s efforts in responding to the ongoing drought and food insecurity, noting that over 500,000 people affected by the crisis are already receiving emergency cash support through joint efforts with the UK, the World Bank, and the United Nations. The UK-supported African Risk Capacity (ARC) insurance policy for drought was activated, releasing $3.4 million in rapid payouts to the Somali Government for emergency response. Additional ARC Replica insurance for the Start Network and the World Food Programme provided over $2 million for humanitarian partners, while Start Ready, a pre-arranged finance facility, has already disbursed almost $3 million for anticipatory action, helping mitigate the humanitarian impacts before conditions deteriorate.
During a visit to a World Food Programme (WFP) warehouse in Mogadishu with Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama, Baroness Chapman announced £6 million in additional UK humanitarian funding. This support will target the highest-need locations, providing life-saving assistance to more than 129,000 people affected by drought. She emphasized the importance of timely aid delivery to protect vulnerable communities and called for continued partnership between the UK, the UN, the Somali Government, and other stakeholders.
Baroness Chapman also met with leaders from the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) and the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM) to acknowledge their contribution to Somalia’s security. During a visit to their air operations facility, she observed the UN’s support work and met UK personnel involved in Operation Tangham, which trains the Somali National Army. UK support continues to strengthen Somali forces, save lives, and counter violent extremism, contributing to a safer and more secure Somalia.
The £6 million humanitarian assistance is part of a broader £61 million UK package for the 2025/26 financial year, addressing both immediate needs and underlying drivers of crisis in Somalia. This includes over £12 million in partnership with the Somali Government, WFP, and the World Bank to provide shock-responsive social protection for vulnerable drought-affected households. The UK is also a founder and donor of the African Risk Capacity, subsidizing multiyear drought insurance for Somalia and supporting anticipatory finance mechanisms like ARC Replica and Start Ready to improve early humanitarian response.
