Southern Somalia is at risk of famine for the first time since 2022, with over 37% of children in the Burhakaba District of Bay Region suffering from acute malnutrition. Approximately 6 million Somalis currently face crisis-level food insecurity—worse than projected, due to below-average seasonal rains. The situation is compounded by a catastrophic funding collapse: overall humanitarian financing for Somalia stands at $160 million in 2026, compared to $531 million last year and $2.38 billion during the 2022 drought. US aid cuts are a significant driver of the crisis, with current assistance covering only 12% of what is required. Aid organizations have warned that Somalia could potentially become the first major humanitarian crisis of the “post-aid era,” where growing need meets a deliberately shrinking international response.
Reuters
