Somali Observatory for Humanitarian Affairs It is a specialized, independent, non-profit media network that observes and follows up the Somali humanitarian scene
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A severe humanitarian crisis is impacting thousands of Somali families in the Dadaab refugee camps in northeastern Kenya, while the United Nations warns of an escalating state of emergency due to drought in Somalia, signaling a potential widespread humanitarian catastrophe, according to a report published by “The New Arab” (Al-Araby Al-Jadeed).
Technical Glitch Deprives Thousands of Families of Food Aid
An estimated over ten thousand people, representing thousands of Somali families in the Dadaab camps, have been enduring unprecedented and harsh living conditions since last July following the suspension of their food rations. This crisis is attributed to a technical glitch in the World Food Programme’s (WFP) food distribution records, resulting in their names being deleted from the beneficiary lists, as reported by “The New Arab”.
The stories of refugees, such as Rahma Abdulkadir Madghab, a mother of eleven, and Ishaq Mohammed Nour, a father of six, highlight the depth of the suffering. Rahma’s food rations have been cut for five months, forcing her to take on debt for food, which has accumulated to over 75,000 Kenyan Shillings (approximately $581). Meanwhile, Ishaq Nour is relying on meager aid from neighbors after losing his job, as his fragile shelter of straw and nylon continues to deteriorate.
In this context, Khalif Dhobow Jale, chairman of the Hagardera camp and a member of the Dadaab camp management committee, confirmed that the committee’s efforts have led to the reinstatement of over 500 families. However, he stressed that thousands more families remain excluded from the system, awaiting effective intervention from the WFP to resolve the persistent technical issue.
UN Warnings of Starvation Catastrophe in Somalia
Further compounding the humanitarian crisis, the UN has warned that Somalia is facing a worsening emergency due to drought, which has decimated vast swathes of the country after four consecutive seasons of rainfall failure. A recent UN assessment mission reported that local communities are suffering from severe shortages of water and food, cautioning that a disaster is likely in the coming months.
The drought crisis is exacerbated by funding shortfalls, with the 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan for Somalia funded by only 23.7%, leading to massive cuts in aid. The number of people receiving emergency food assistance has dropped sharply from 1.1 million in August to just 350,000 currently.
It is projected that at least 4.4 million people will face acute food insecurity until December, and 1.85 million children under five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition until mid-2026. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) predicts the persistence of drought and high temperatures across most of the country, which will intensify the water crisis.
