By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
SOMALIA (Dawan Africa) — Somalia is facing a worsening humanitarian crisis as prolonged drought, uneven seasonal rains, flash floods and rising global fuel prices deepen food insecurity and displacement across the country, according to a new United Nations report.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said more than 5 million people have been affected by drought conditions, while 4.8 million people are expected to require humanitarian and protection assistance in 2026. The humanitarian response plan for Somalia, which requires US$852 million, has received only 15 per cent of its funding target.
The report said Somalia remains in the grip of one of its longest and most severe droughts following consecutive failed rainy seasons since 2024, despite the recent onset of Gu rains between April and June.
OCHA said the drought has displaced more than 500,000 people, mainly pastoralist and agro-pastoralist communities searching for water, food and grazing land. Livestock losses have also weakened household resilience and coping capacity.
While early rains temporarily improved water and pasture access in some southern and central regions, the benefits remained uneven due to depleted water sources, damaged livelihoods and high malnutrition levels.
The agency also reported localized flash flooding in Middle Shabelle, Gedo, Galgaduud and Togdheer regions, where displaced families living in overcrowded settlements suffered shelter damage and increased exposure to water-borne diseases.
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According to the February 2026 IPC analysis, 6.5 million people are experiencing Crisis-level food insecurity or worse, including 2 million in Emergency conditions, while 1.8 million children are at risk of acute malnutrition.
In Togdheer region, flash floods in Buuhoodle reportedly killed two people, injured 25 others and displaced more than 250 families. In Galgaduud region, floods killed around 6,000 livestock and affected about 500 pastoralist families in Baraag Abdille.
The report also warned that tensions around the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Middle East conflict are increasing fuel and commodity prices in Somalia, disrupting humanitarian supply chains and raising operational costs for aid agencies.
Fuel prices have reportedly risen from about US$0.60 to US$1.50 per litre in recent weeks, contributing to higher transport and food costs. Prices of imported staples such as rice, sugar and wheat flour have increased by more than 50 per cent in some markets, while water prices in drought-affected areas have risen by up to 300 per cent.
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher, who visited Somalia in April, warned that rising hunger, climate shocks and funding shortfalls were pushing the humanitarian situation toward further deterioration. During his visit, he met displaced communities and humanitarian workers in Mogadishu and Baidoa.
OCHA said more than 300 health facilities across Somalia have already closed or become non-functional because of funding shortages, while humanitarian agencies warned that more services could shut down without urgent international support.