More than 1.8 million children under five are at risk of acute malnutrition between now and June, according to the latest analysis published by the IPC food security monitoring platform. This concerning situation follows the failure of rains during the October to December Deyr season and a consequent drop in crop production. The hardest hit are poor farmers, pastoralists, and internally displaced people.
Drought, displacement, aid shortfalls
In Somalia, drought, insecurity, and conflict in the center, south, and parts of the north—driven by insurgency and resource competition—have displaced people, disrupting livelihoods and market access. The scenario is worsened by high local and imported food prices and reduced humanitarian aid.
The IPC—a UN-backed initiative—uses a one to five scale to measure food insecurity severity, aiding governments and humanitarians in crisis classification.
Millions going hungry
Experts estimate a staggering 6.5 million Somalis face acute food insecurity, or IPC Phase 3 and above, compared to 3.4 million in the first quarter of 2025. Over two million are at emergency level, or Phase 4. Most pastoral and agropastoral people in northern, central, and southern regions are classified in Phase 3, facing food consumption gaps, rising acute malnutrition, and relying on crisis or emergency coping strategies for basic needs.
This year, 1.84 million young children are suffering or will suffer from acute malnutrition, with 483,000 cases of severe acute malnutrition (SAM), the deadliest form of malnutrition, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Step up action
Acute food insecurity in Somalia is expected to worsen through March during the dry Jilaal season, the hottest period. Forecasts suggest the Gu rainy season from April to June may be average in most areas, potentially restoring water and pasture resources. Consequently, people at IPC Phase 3 or above may drop to 5.5 million. However, acute food insecurity will remain widespread, and improvements will be uneven across zones.
The IPC calls for urgent scaling up of lifesaving humanitarian aid to hotspot areas with high acute food insecurity and malnutrition levels. Recommendations include increasing aid in rural and underserved areas, strengthening coordination for a combined response involving food security, nutrition, health, WASH, and other interventions, and improving humanitarian aid targeting to reach those most in need.
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