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The World Food Programme has warned that an additional one million people in Somalia could experience crisis-level hunger in the upcoming months due to an anticipated drought affecting the next crop cycle.
Jean-Martin Bauer, director of the WFP’s Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Service, noted that this figure could increase further due to funding cuts. The Horn of Africa endured its driest conditions in over 40 years in 2022, resulting in the deaths of approximately 43,000 people.Bauer mentioned that around 3.4 million people currently face acute food insecurity in Somalia, a number expected to rise to 4.4 million in the near future, particularly in phases three and above of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification system. Phase three indicates crisis hunger, phase four signifies emergency levels, and phase five represents famine.
Forecasts suggest below-average rainfall from April to June 2025, which may lead to drought conditions following two unsuccessful rainy seasons. Children are particularly vulnerable to hunger, with projections indicating that about 1.7 million children under five will experience acute malnutrition by December 2025, including 466,000 facing severe acute malnutrition.
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The WFP has already had to reduce its assistance efforts, currently supporting around 820,000 individuals compared to 2.2 million at the height of the crisis in 2022. Bauer noted that potential funding cuts from the U.S. government, resulting from significant aid reductions under President Donald Trump, have not yet been accounted for. The situation in Somalia could deteriorate further due to the anticipated weather conditions, funding shortfalls, high food prices, and ongoing conflict.
