Funding aimed at addressing severe malnutrition in certain regions of Somalia has significantly decreased by over 80% this year, as reported by Doctors Without Borders. Despite the fact that one out of every four children screened in displacement camps in the southwest of Somalia is severely malnourished, the United States has cut its aid support to relief organizations in the country from $70 million last year to zero funding this year. This reduction has left aid groups struggling to meet the increasing needs. Other Western donors have also scaled back their financial assistance.
Mitchell Sangma, a health adviser with Doctors Without Borders, expressed concern over the lack of donor support as the organization has witnessed a substantial increase in nutrition cases this year. A survey conducted by MSF in July across 888 households in 14 displacement sites in Baidoa, southwest Somalia, revealed alarming statistics. One in four children was severely malnourished, and one-third of families reported surviving on just one meal per day, with only two percent able to afford three meals.
Somalia is currently grappling with a worsening hunger crisis exacerbated by consecutive failed rainy seasons that have destroyed crops, led to livestock deaths, and depleted water sources. The situation is further worsened by conflict and insecurity, which have disrupted livelihoods and hindered access to food, healthcare, and aid.
In February, the Somali government and the United Nations jointly stated that around 6.5 million people in the country were facing acute hunger due to drought. Doctors Without Borders has been actively screening children under five in Baidoa since the beginning of the year, identifying acute malnutrition rates of approximately 50%. Although not as severe as severe malnutrition, acute malnutrition still poses a significant threat as it involves sudden weight loss and is life-threatening.
The United Nations reported that over half a million individuals were displaced in Somalia in the first quarter of 2026, with drought being the primary driver of this displacement, with women and children constituting about 85% of those affected. The unfolding crisis has rekindled fears of a recurrence of Somalia’s 2022 near-famine, but aid agencies are facing significant funding shortages hindering an effective response.
Doctors Without Borders highlighted that there is only about $300 million available for Somalia from donors, a stark contrast to the $2.2 billion provided in 2022 during a similar drought crisis. Allara Ali, the project coordinator for Doctors Without Borders in Somalia, emphasized the urgency of taking action now to prevent loss of lives, stressing that the world cannot afford to wait for a famine declaration before intervening.
