The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that Somalia is once again on the brink of famine, as drought and hunger continue to worsen. WFP Deputy Director Matthew Hollingworth said that six million Somalis are currently facing severe food insecurity, while two million people are just one step away from an officially declared famine.
He explained that nearly two million children are suffering from acute malnutrition, with hundreds of thousands at risk of falling into the most severe stage of malnutrition
According to WFP, three consecutive rainy seasons have failed, leading to widespread crop destruction, massive livestock deaths, and the collapse of livelihoods. Regions including Puntland have reported severe water shortages, forcing many families to flee their homes in search of food, water, and humanitarian assistance.
The agency also noted that ongoing conflict and insecurity have made it increasingly difficult to deliver humanitarian aid. At the same time, the impact of wars in the Middle East has driven up food and fuel prices across Somalia. In some areas, food prices have risen by as much as 70 percent, while fuel prices have increased by 150 percent.
WFP said that a major funding shortfall has forced significant cuts to humanitarian operations. The number of people receiving aid has dropped sharply from more than two million last year, and the agency says it can now assist only one out of every ten people in need.
While WFP recalled the swift international action in 2022 that successfully helped avert famine in Somalia, the organization urged the world to urgently increase support in order to prevent the crisis from turning into another humanitarian catastrophe.