Somali Observatory for Humanitarian Affairs The Voice of Reality.. The Eye of Humanitarian Truth in Somalia
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MOGADISHU – The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has issued a new warning over the worsening humanitarian situation in Somalia, stating that continued drought conditions, combined with the impact of conflicts and declining humanitarian funding, have increased pressure on millions of people facing growing challenges in accessing food, water, healthcare, and essential protection services.
OCHA said Somalia’s current humanitarian crisis is the result of multiple overlapping factors, including reduced rainfall, recurring climate shocks, declining livelihoods in several regions, and the prolonged effects of conflict that have weakened communities’ ability to cope with repeated emergencies. The UN agency noted that rural communities and pastoralist populations remain among the most affected groups due to their heavy dependence on natural resources and limited water sources.
The UN assessment highlighted that the impact of drought has gone beyond environmental concerns, affecting critical sectors directly linked to people’s daily lives. Water shortages have contributed to significant livestock losses, declining agricultural production, and increasing economic pressure on families that have lost important sources of income. OCHA also stressed that remote and coastal communities face additional challenges due to limited access to basic services and humanitarian assistance.
According to the UN assessment, approximately 250,000 people have been directly affected by drought-related impacts in different parts of Somalia. The most vulnerable groups, including internally displaced people, low-income families, and pastoralist communities, are facing increasing risks as harsh climate conditions continue. OCHA warned that without expanded humanitarian interventions, prolonged drought could lead to higher levels of need and further deterioration of living conditions.
In terms of essential services, OCHA reported that more than 570,000 people urgently require access to water services, while around 1.5 million people need food assistance due to worsening food insecurity. The UN agency also highlighted the continued challenge of child malnutrition, with hundreds of thousands of children suffering from acute malnutrition amid limited access to healthcare and preventive services, particularly in rural areas.
The consequences of the crisis have also extended to education, as drought, displacement, and difficult economic conditions have disrupted schooling and forced the closure of hundreds of schools in affected areas, threatening the future of thousands of children. Meanwhile, the World Food Programme (WFP) reported that around two million people are facing emergency levels of hunger under the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), stressing that continued humanitarian support remains essential to prevent further deterioration.
The United Nations emphasized that addressing Somalia’s humanitarian crisis requires a combination of immediate emergency assistance and long-term solutions, including greater investment in water resources, agriculture, livestock development, and early warning systems. It also stressed the importance of strengthening community resilience and moving beyond short-term emergency responses toward building a sustainable national framework capable of confronting future climate-related challenges.
Somalia is among the countries in the Horn of Africa most affected by climate change, having experienced repeated drought cycles in recent years that caused major losses to livestock and agricultural production while contributing to increased internal displacement and humanitarian needs.
Humanitarian and development experts emphasize that the continuation of climate-related crises highlights the urgent need to strengthen sustainable development programmes, improve natural resource management, and expand cooperation between government institutions, international organizations, and local actors. Such efforts are considered essential to building more resilient communities capable of withstanding future shocks and supporting long-term stability.
