Mogadishu (Dawan Africa) – The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has issued a stark warning about the worsening humanitarian crisis in Somalia, highlighting that a major reduction in funding for critical aid operations is exacerbating the dire situation.
In a report released on Tuesday, OCHA revealed that more than 4.6 million people in Somalia are currently facing severe food insecurity, with approximately 1.8 million children under the age of five expected to suffer from acute malnutrition this year.
The agency noted that food assistance has dropped by more than 50% compared to the same period in 2024, resulting in devastating effects on life-saving programs, particularly for vulnerable children and families. Despite a humanitarian appeal of $1.4 billion, Somalia has only received less than 15% of the necessary funds, leading to the closure of essential health centers and nutrition facilities.
“OCHA is deeply concerned that without immediate and sustained funding, Somalia's humanitarian crisis will continue to escalate — leading to preventable suffering and loss of life,” the agency warned.
Key impacts highlighted in the report include:
- Over 150 health facilities have shut down in the first half of 2025, leaving hundreds of thousands without essential medical care.
- In Middle Shabelle, more than 28 nutrition sites are expected to close by the end of the month, endangering the health of pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and malnourished children.
- In the Banadir region, 12,700 children, including 1,100 with severe acute malnutrition, are at risk of losing access to treatment as 20 supplementary feeding centers face imminent closure.
- In South West State, the number of mobile health teams has dropped from 74 to just 25, severely limiting healthcare access in remote areas.
- In Puntland, 79 health facilities, including all 29 public health units, have ceased operations since the beginning of the year.
The report also highlighted that funding for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs stands at just 6.5% of the required amount, increasing vulnerability to climate shocks and disease outbreaks.
OCHA estimates that 2 million Somalis will face increased vulnerability in the coming months due to the ongoing funding shortfall. Humanitarian agencies are now being forced to reprioritize and scale back operations to match the limited resources available.
“Thousands of lives are at stake — especially among children. Urgent donor support is needed to avert famine, address malnutrition, and maintain essential health and protection services,” the report concluded, urging the international community to respond promptly and prevent the situation from worsening.
