Alert note: Widespread Severe Drought in Somalia

Somalisk Forening for Genopbygning (OFROSOM) has submitted an alert due severe drought in Somalia.

The nature of the crisis is widespread drought. The most affected areas include Jubaland (Gedo & Afmadow), Hirshabelle (Hiran), Southwest (Bay, Bakool), Galmudug (Mudug& Galgaudud), Puntland (Bari), Somaliland (Toghdheer) and Sool region. The unfolding situation follows the poor performance of the October to December 2024 deyr rains which led to drought conditions in southern and central regions, and current hot and dry conditions. The most affected areas include Gedo, Hiran, Bay, Bakool, Mudug, Bari, Toghdheer, Bakool, Galguduud and Sool regions. An estimated 1.7 million children under the age of five face acute malnutrition through December 2025. Of those, 466,000 face severe acute malnutrition – an increase of nine per cent compared to the same period last year. Acute funding shortfalls have resulted in life-saving programmes being reduced or cut altogether. Somalia has suffered consecutive climate shocks, with below-average rainfall in late 2024 severely reducing crop yields, depleting water sources and leading to livestock losses. Alarming new data from Somalia shows that one million more people could be pushed into crisis levels of food insecurity in the coming months as drought conditions, conflict and high food prices threaten to disrupt farming, restrict market access and increase humanitarian needs.