Somalia is on the brink of famine.
Crippled by its worst drought in 40 years, four consecutive poor or failed harvests since 2020, escalating local and imported food prices, the deaths of more than three million livestock, drought and conflict-induced population displacement have combined to create a life-threatening emergency.
A life-threatening emergency for children
"Never has the severity of the hunger crisis in Somalia, which is extending across the Horn of Africa, been so dire.”
This is according to Save the Children’s Country Director in Somalia Mohamud Mohamed Hassan, after new figures show 1.8 million children suffering from acute malnutrition – a 20% increase from previous forecasts.
One in almost six children – or more than 500,000 – are suffering from severe acute malnutrition – the deadliest form of malnutrition.
With the UN warning of famine in parts of the country within months, the window of opportunity to act and stop the suffering is continuing to shrink rapidly. We need your help.
Abdi* has been suffering from severe malnutrition since he was born, due to drought which is ravaging parts of Somalia and huge swathes of the Horn of Africa. Malnutrition has stripped Abdi* of his appetite and he struggles to drink his milk without vomiting.
An unfolding climate crisis created by others
With the number of climate-related disasters tripling in the past 30 years, frequent and recurring climate shocks - such as drought, flooding, and cyclones - are repeatedly decimating farming and livestock, driving population displacement, and pushing millions into acute hunger.
The great tragedy of hunger in Somalia is that the country has been one of the lowest contributors to the climate crisis, and yet is feeling the impact most severely. Right now, the Horn of Africa is experiencing an extreme, persistent drought after four consecutive failed rainy seasons – a climatic event not seen in at least 40 years – and it’s set to get worse.
We are calling on the global community to urgently address the root causes of this crisis, including finding sustainable solutions to address climate change and support the communities most affected to adapt and prepare for climate shocks.
Widespread suffering is happening right now
Families and children in Somalia are already suffering.
Nearly 6.7 million people in Somalia - 41% of the population - are expected to be battling widespread food shortages between October and December this year, which is an increase of nearly 2.4 million people from previous figures.
In 2011, the last time famine hit the country, 260,000 people died. More than half of those lives lost were children.
The services set up to combat malnutrition and hunger in Somalia are simply not enough to meet the huge and increasing levels of need.
“He has been sick since he was born. He is suffering from stomach pain, vomiting and he has a fever,” says Hawa*. His body is tiny, weighing roughly the size of a newborn baby.
On the ground, there where the need is greatest
We’ve worked in Somalia since 1951.
This year, we've helped reach more than 24,000 people through cash programming and treated more than 50,000 children for malnutrition. We are currently providing water trucking to more than 25,000 households and unconditional cash provisions to nearly 11,000 households in the worst-affected areas.
But as this crisis unfolds, more lives are at risk.
Join us. We need your help.
With your generous support, we can step up our response to the crisis and ensure lifesaving food, water and health services become available immediately to families who desperately need it across Somalia.
Around 1.5 million children in Somalia will face acute malnutrition this Christmas. Nearly a quarter of those could die if we don’t reach them in time.
Your support will help us:
- Fund life-saving therapeutic food and medicine for children with severe malnutrition.
- Help train and support more health workers to treat the growing number of children facing starvation.
- Help equip and run a stabilisation centre to save the lives of children.