Millions in Somalia risk famine due to severe drought, with aid cuts and failed rains pushing 6.5 million into crisis as herding livelihoods collapse.
GENEVA: Millions of people in Somalia are at imminent risk of famine due to a prolonged and severe drought, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned.
The humanitarian organisation stated that after two consecutive failed rainy seasons, the country faces a high risk of returning to the catastrophic hunger levels last seen in 2022.
It warned that only a massive and urgent increase in humanitarian assistance can prevent millions from slipping further into emergency levels of hunger.
A recent assessment by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification shows the crisis is escalating rapidly.
The number of Somalis classified as being in “crisis or worse” nearly doubled between early 2025 and February-March 2026, reaching 6.5 million people.
Compounding the natural disaster, humanitarian funding for Somalia has sharply decreased.
This funding shortfall has forced many aid organisations to close programmes, limiting essential food, water, healthcare and livelihood support precisely as needs surge.
The UN World Food Programme warned last month it may have to cease all humanitarian aid in the country by April without new funds.
The ICRC highlighted that animal herding, the livelihood for over 60% of Somalis, is on the verge of collapse after repeated climate shocks.
Herds of goats and camels have been decimated, leaving families without income or food and forcing thousands into makeshift displacement camps.
Decades of fighting in Somalia have severely exacerbated the dire climatic situation.
Last year alone, the combined effects of conflict and drought displaced more than 500,000 people from their homes.
“The fighting has caused displacement. The drought has caused displacement,” said Mohamed Sheikh, who oversees ICRC operations in the Galmudug region.
He added that the situation will become desperate if the rains do not arrive soon.
The Sun Malaysia
