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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MOGADISHU — Somali authorities and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) have confirmed that over 4.6 million people in Somalia—approximately a quarter of the population—have been affected by a worsening drought that has led to acute water and food shortages and significant livestock losses.
Reports indicate that severe climatic conditions, rising water prices, and food scarcity forced nearly 120,000 people to flee their homes during the final quarter of last year. The crisis is projected to intensify during the first three months of the current year due to successive failed rainy seasons, further exacerbating the humanitarian pressure on local communities.
As part of the emergency response, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has allocated approximately $10 million to support over 603,000 people through cash assistance, livestock feed, and the rehabilitation of water sources. However, the comprehensive $1.4 billion Humanitarian Response Plan continues to face a substantial funding gap, with only $370 million secured to date.
International agencies have warned that the coming months will be critical in determining the trajectory of the crisis, calling on the global community to bolster financial support and provide life-saving assistance to prevent further forced displacement and loss of life, especially given the fragility of Somalia’s pastoral and agricultural economy.
