Somalia is grappling with a deepening humanitarian crisis, as a new United Nations report reveals that 4.6 million people are currently facing food insecurity.
Among them, 1.8 million children under the age of five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition this year.
UN Secretary-General’s spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, disclosed the alarming figures on Tuesday, warning that aid cuts are exacerbating the crisis. Food assistance to the country has been slashed by half compared to last year, and nearly 150 clinics have been affected, leaving hundreds of thousands without access to critical healthcare.
The worsening situation is further complicated by the decline in U.S. humanitarian aid. According to previous reports from the Associated Press, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) once provided 65% of Somalia’s foreign aid. That support has significantly diminished, creating a gap that Somali health workers say has had devastating consequences.
Dr. Abdiqani Sheikh Omar, a former director general at Somalia’s Ministry of Health and now a government advisor, expressed concern over the disappearance of hundreds of millions in U.S. support during the Trump administration.
While the U.S. State Department says some lifesaving USAID programs, including food and nutrition assistance for children, are still operational, aid workers remain worried. There is uncertainty over which programs will continue after July 1, when responsibility for aid shifts to the State Department.
Dujarric echoed concerns from UN humanitarian partners, warning that Somalia’s crisis may worsen without urgent donor support. The $1.4 billion Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Somalia is only 15% funded so far, with just $222 million received.
