The Federal Government of Somalia declared a drought emergency on 10 November, appealing for urgent international assistance as the situation worsens across the northern, central, and southern regions, according to the UN’s OCHA.
Puntland is severely affected, with nearly one million people in need of support, including 130,000 facing life-threatening conditions.
A UN mission to Bari and Nugaal found communities struggling with severe water and food shortages, with residents fearing a looming catastrophe.
Abdiqani Osman Omar, mayor of Shaxda in Bari, noted, “We have not had rain since last year; this is the worst drought in years.” He added that hundreds of displaced families have arrived, mainly women and children, as men have moved to Ethiopia for pasture and water. Local capacity is inadequate to support them, and even host communities require assistance.
Across Puntland, water points have dried, vegetation has withered, and pastoral settlements are abandoned.
In Dhaxan town, despite brief Gu’ season rains, residents now rely on expensive trucked water after borehole contamination. Community leader Jama Abshir Hersi reported dwindling food, nutrition, and medical aid.
Funding shortfalls exacerbate the crisis. By 23 November, Somalia’s 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan was just 23.7% funded, forcing aid reductions. Emergency food aid recipients dropped from 1.1 million in August to 350,000. In Puntland, many feeding sites and health centres face severe shortages.
The drought worsens an already dire humanitarian situation. At least 4.4 million people could face acute food insecurity by December, with 1.85 million children under five expected to suffer acute malnutrition through mid-2026.
Weather forecasts offer little relief. The UN FAO warned that dry, hot conditions will likely persist, particularly in central and northern regions, exacerbating water stress and limiting pasture regeneration.
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