Somalia the UN fears an unprecedented hunger crisis

UN Sounds Alarm Over Worsening Hunger Crisis in Somalia

The United Nations has raised the alarm about what it describes as the most complex food‑crisis in recent years in Somalia. The dire situation stems from a dramatic combination of two consecutive rain‑less seasons, ongoing armed conflict, and a sharp drop in international funding for humanitarian aid.

Key Facts

Date of statement: Saturday, 21 February 2026
Speaker: Ross Smith, Director of the Preparedness and Emergency Response Division, World Food Programme (WFP)
Food‑security outlook: All food‑security indicators and early‑warning systems now place Somalia on a trajectory similar to historic famines.

Scale of the Crisis

People at risk: Approximately 4.4 million Somalis – about 25 % of the total population – are experiencing Phase 3 or higher food‑insecurity according to the international IPC classification.
Extreme hunger: Nearly 1 million adults and children are suffering from extreme hunger.
Acute malnutrition: 2 million children are affected by acute malnutrition, including over 400 000 who show signs of severe acute malnutrition (SAM), a life‑threatening form of emaciation.
Displacement: Population movements are accelerating, with almost 500 000 new internally displaced persons (IDPs) recorded in the past five months.

Humanitarian Response Gap

Funding shortfall: The WFP faces an unprecedented resource gap, forcing it to scale back interventions.
Coverage: The agency can currently assist only 1 in 7 people who need life‑saving aid.
Comparative figures: While 2.2 million people received emergency assistance during the same period last year, the WFP can now support only 640 000 individuals.

“The world stands at a decisive turning point. Immediate strengthening of the humanitarian response is essential to prevent a widespread famine and to protect millions of lives,” said Ross Smith.

Call to Action

Donors, governments, and private sector partners are urged to mobilise urgent funding and logistical support to close the assistance gap and avert a catastrophic famine in Somalia.