New York (KAAB TV) – A report supported by the United Nations (UN) on Wednesday reveals that around 4.4 million people in Somalia will be at risk of starvation by June, largely due to ongoing drought conditions.
This figure represents an increase of one million people compared to the current crisis. The data comes from the Integrated Food Security Assessment (IPC), an initiative supported by the UN.
“We are warning of a worsening food security situation in the country,” said UN Secretary General’s spokesman, Stephane Dujarric.
The report attributes the crisis to below-average rainfall, high food prices, ongoing conflict, and worsening food insecurity, all of which contribute to the rising number. These 4.4 million individuals represent 23 percent of Somalia’s total population, and the situation is expected to worsen between April and June.
Somalia, one of the world’s poorest countries, has been ravaged by decades of civil war, a violent insurgency led by Al-Shabaab (an Al-Qaeda-linked group), and frequent weather-related disasters.
The IPC report also predicts that nearly 1.7 million children under five will suffer from severe malnutrition by 2025, which represents a four percent increase from 2024. This includes 466,000 cases of severe acute malnutrition.
Etienne Peterschmitt, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) representative in Somalia, stated, “Deteriorating drought, erratic rainfall, and ongoing conflict are destroying livelihoods, pushing families into dire straits.”
The UN is responding by increasing support for agricultural production, promoting climate-friendly solutions, and strengthening resilient agri-food systems. According to the UN, nearly six million Somalis will require humanitarian assistance in 2025.
Despite the ongoing funding shortfall, a call issued in January seeks $1.43 billion to support the 4.6 million most vulnerable people.