Mogadishu (Kaab TV) – Somalia is once again facing a growing risk of famine, following a new report indicating that millions of people are suffering from severe hunger, as prolonged drought, conflict, and declining humanitarian assistance continue to worsen living conditions across the country.
A report released by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) stated that more than six million Somalis are experiencing acute food insecurity, while millions of children are at risk of severe malnutrition throughout 2026.
According to the IPC, nearly 1.9 million Somali children will require urgent medical and nutritional assistance, with some parts of Somalia described as being at the highest risk of officially falling into famine.
The agency noted that humanitarian aid remains “the only lifeline saving lives,” but currently reaches only a small percentage of those facing the most extreme levels of hunger.
“There is an urgent need to scale up multi-sector humanitarian assistance, particularly in the hardest-hit areas such as (Burhakaba), in order to prevent deaths and a further deterioration of the situation,” the IPC said.
The report also highlighted the impact of cuts to international aid, particularly support from the United States, after President Donald Trump’s administration suspended large portions of the funding Somalia had previously received through USAID.
Humanitarian organizations said the move has severely weakened food assistance, healthcare services, and livelihood support programs that millions of people in Somalia depended on.
The Somalia Director of Save the Children, Mohamed Mohamud Hassan, warned that the country has entered an extremely dangerous humanitarian phase, adding that the window to prevent famine is rapidly closing.
“Children are dying from preventable causes such as malnutrition, disease, and displacement, while humanitarian funding remains far below the level of need,” Mohamed said.
Meanwhile, the Somalia Director of the International Rescue Committee, Richard Crothers, said Somalia is once again on the brink of catastrophe, accusing the international community of failing to respond swiftly to repeated warnings about the country’s hunger crisis.