A stark warning has been issued by the Somali government and UN agencies, alerting that 4.4 million people could face hunger by April 2025.
The looming threat stems from a worsening drought, ongoing conflict, and rising food prices in Somalia.
The Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA) expressed grave concern, stating that the country’s worsening drought is severely impacting already vulnerable communities.
SoDMA Commissioner Mohamuud Moallim called for immediate action to prevent further suffering.
“This is not just about drought; the situation is compounded by conflict and an unprecedented decline in humanitarian funding,” said Moallim in a joint statement with UN organizations.
The warning is backed by agencies such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), UNICEF, and the UN World Food Programme.
They fear the number of affected individuals could rise by 23% of the population by mid-2025, with the onset of below-average rains.
According to the agencies, critical funding shortfalls have forced many life-saving programs to scale back or cease entirely.
The situation demands urgent and coordinated action to address food security, nutrition, and water needs.
The United Nations estimates that Somalia requires $1.42 billion to address its 2025 humanitarian crisis. Yet, as of now, only 12.4% of that amount has been secured.
This alarming report comes as recent analysis shows that 3.4 million Somalis are already experiencing hunger at crisis levels.
If the current trends continue, the country could be on the brink of another devastating famine, akin to the 2022 disaster that claimed thousands of lives.
