By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
Mogadishu (Dawan Africa) – More than 80 percent of Somali children aged 5 to 17 live in multidimensional poverty, lacking housing, education, and sanitation, according to a new report Somali National Bureau of Statistics (SNBS) and UNICEF.
The findings show that nearly 70 percent of children under the age of five experience at least two major deprivations simultaneously, while more than 80 percent of children aged 5–17 face deprivation in two or more essential dimensions, including education, housing, water, sanitation, nutrition, and access to information.
The report highlights that child poverty in Somalia extends beyond income poverty alone. Many children face overlapping deprivations that affect their growth, development, and access to basic services and opportunities.
The study also found that children living in rural and nomadic communities are disproportionately affected, particularly in the areas of housing, sanitation, and education.
Housing and sanitation were identified as the most widespread forms of deprivation affecting children nationwide.
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Dr. Abdisalam Abdirahman Mohamed, Director General of the Somalia National Bureau of Statistics, said children represent the country's future and emphasized the importance of reliable data in guiding investments and public services.
“This analysis provides critical evidence to better understand the challenges facing Somali children and supports more informed policymaking, targeted investments, and effective service delivery,” he said.
UNICEF Somalia Representative Sandra Lattouf noted that understanding how deprivations overlap is essential for designing coordinated interventions that improve outcomes for children across sectors.
The findings are expected to support Somalia's Vision 2060, the National Transformation Plan (2025–2029), and the Sustainable Development Goals by providing evidence to guide future policies and investments.
The analysis is based on data from the 2022 Somalia Integrated Household Budget Survey and applies UNICEF's Multiple Overlapping Deprivation Analysis (MODA) methodology to assess multidimensional child poverty among children aged 0–17 years.