The United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has released $10 million to combat a catastrophic drought ravaging Somalia. It is estimated that 6.5 million people now face crisis-level hunger or worse, which is an increase of 1.7 million since January.
CERF says drought devastates Somalia as families flee to overcrowded camps
For residents of Madina Camp on the outskirts of Baidoa in Somalia’s South West State, the start of 2026 has brought nothing but hardship. Thousands have fled rural areas to overcrowded camps as the drought destroys livelihoods.
Severe drought is pushing people in #Somalia deeper into crisis.
Livestock are dying. Water is running out. Food is harder to find. Livelihoods are devastated.@UN Global Emergency Fund CERF released $10M to respond to growing needs.
More from our colleague on the ground. 👇 pic.twitter.com/6prry9KdyF
— UN Humanitarian (@UNOCHA) April 9, 2026
Adan Adan Abdi, a sub-camp leader responsible for about 50 people, said the situation across these camps is the same. He added that the hardship is severe, and people are extremely hungry and thirsty.
Abdi noted that families go day to day without food to cook. Also, the only available work requires venturing deep into the bush to collect firewood for sale at the market.
Pointing to a water truck that had just arrived from the Juba Foundation, a local NGO, Abdi said the water received is the only assistance they have seen.
While Somalia has always suffered water scarcity, the current pattern of droughts striking every two or three years is unprecedented.
“Drought has become a persistent pattern in Somalia over the past 30 years, eroding the resilience of communities and institutions. In the past, drought was concentrated in certain regions. Today, it is spreading across much larger parts of the country, including areas that were not traditionally drought-prone,” said Abdiaki Ainte, director of climate and food security in the Somali Prime Minister’s Office.
Mother loses infant twin to malnutrition amid worsening hunger crisis
For 22-year-old Nurta Sidow Qasim, crisis-level hunger claimed the life of her infant twin daughter, Khadija. The baby fell sick with malnutrition, and hospital treatment proved insufficient.
“The staff gave me tablets, syrup, and rehydration salts. But before I could start the treatment, she passed away,” Nurta said.
Nurta now fears for her surviving twin, Mohamed, who remains weak. Food shortages have forced her to feed him black tea and occasionally powdered milk.
She said the children are in very difficult conditions. Adding that they are in urgent need of assistance.
Funding cuts from international aid partners have worsened the crisis. Last year, humanitarian funding requirements received only 29 per cent of what was needed.
Additionally, the UK plans further cuts after failing to name Somalia among countries with protected aid. The US has slashed funding to just $3 million in the first three months of 2026, compared to $462 million during the same period in 2025.
In a related development, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN OCHA) has issued an urgent appeal for $852 million to save 2.4 million people in Somalia from starvation and disease. This follows a new multi-stakeholder analysis that reveals a catastrophic convergence of climatic shocks and violence.