Somalia is facing a severe drought emergency, putting millions of people at risk of hunger, malnutrition, and preventable death. Consecutive poor rainy seasons have left communities struggling to access food and water, prompting the Federal Government of Somalia to declare a national drought emergency. According to the latest IPC analysis, around 4.4 million people are projected to face severe acute food insecurity between October and December 2025, including an estimated 1.85 million children under five who are at risk of acute malnutrition through July 2026. With the next rainy season not expected until April 2026, urgent action is critical to prevent widespread suffering.
The humanitarian impact of the drought is severe and multifaceted. Climate change and shifting La Niña weather patterns have worsened drought conditions, heavily affecting Somalia’s agricultural sector, which employs 80% of the population. Extended dry seasons delay harvests, damage soil, and force families into impossible choices such as skipping meals or consuming unsafe water. Malnutrition is rising, particularly among young children, threatening long-term physical and cognitive development, while widespread food insecurity destabilizes communities and strains health systems. Waterborne diseases increase as families travel long distances for water, compounding the risks of illness and death. UNICEF estimates that between 2022 and 2024, approximately 71,000 people in Somalia died from drought-related causes.
Action Against Hunger has been responding to the crisis since 1992, leveraging strong partnerships with local communities and organizations to deliver emergency assistance. Their teams provide water, nutrition, and health support, including trucking safe water to affected communities and distributing hygiene kits to prevent disease outbreaks. Nutrition interventions focus on treating severe acute malnutrition and providing primary healthcare services, while system-strengthening efforts aim to build community resilience against future shocks.
Collaboration is central to the response, with initiatives such as the Caafimaad Plus consortium enabling coordinated delivery of health and nutrition services to maximize impact. Despite these efforts, funding remains critically low, with only a quarter of Somalia’s 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan financed. Without rapid and substantial support, avoidable deaths and widespread malnutrition are likely to increase, particularly as the next rainy season is months away.
Somalia’s overlapping crises, driven by prolonged conflict and climate change, affect approximately 9.1 million people—nearly half the population. Action Against Hunger continues to operate across 29 districts, providing lifesaving aid while supporting long-term resilience, but urgent global attention and funding are required to prevent a catastrophic spike in hunger and protect the most vulnerable communities.
