Mogadishu – Somalia is facing a rapidly escalating emergency due to a severe drought, with vast swathes of the country desiccated after four consecutive failed rainy seasons, United Nations agencies have warned. Millions of Somalis are at risk of famine and displacement as the crisis deepens.
According to the UN, at least 4.4 million people are projected to face acute food insecurity through December 2025. Furthermore, an estimated 1.85 million children under the age of five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition by mid-2026.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has cautioned that drought conditions and high temperatures are expected to persist across much of Somalia, particularly in the central and northern regions. The combination of rising temperatures and limited rainfall will likely exacerbate the water crisis and hinder pasture regeneration throughout the country.
The Somali Federal Government officially declared a state of emergency on November 10th, appealing to the international community for urgent assistance as conditions continue to deteriorate in the northern, central, and southern regions. Puntland is among the hardest-hit areas, with authorities estimating that approximately one million people are in need of support, including 130,000 requiring life-saving assistance.
However, the UN has highlighted that a lack of humanitarian funding is significantly compounding the crisis. The 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan for Somalia has received only 23.7% of its requested funding, leading to substantial reductions in aid. The number of people receiving emergency food assistance has plummeted from 1.1 million in August to just 350,000 in November.
