Somalia's humanitarian crisis deepens: millions face severe hunger and malnutrition

More than 5.4 million people in Somalia are expected to face crisis levels of hunger or worse between October and December 2026, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said on September 24, citing a new food security analysis released a day earlier. Of those, 1.5 million people are projected to face emergency levels of hunger or worse.

The analysis also found that 1.92 million children under the age of five will need treatment for acute malnutrition between July 2026 and June 2027. That includes 433,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition, the most dangerous form, which sharply raises the risk of death without treatment.

The analysis identified a new risk of famine in Baidoa district in the Bay region, where internally displaced people are facing catastrophic hunger. In neighbouring Burhakaba district, also in Bay, conditions have improved since April, when the district was flagged as at risk of famine.

Humanitarian agencies are also preparing for El Niño-related flooding during the October to December rainy season. Up to 3.4 million people could be affected, with riverine areas in Hiraan, Middle Juba and Lower Juba among the most exposed. Flooding in these areas often displaces families, destroys crops and livestock, and disrupts access to markets and health services, which worsens food insecurity and malnutrition.

"Millions of people are at risk due to high levels of hunger and malnutrition," said George Conway, the Humanitarian Coordinator for Somalia, calling for urgent support to prevent further loss of life.

The response remains badly underfunded. The 2026 Somalia Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan seeks $852 million, but it is only 31 per cent funded. With more than two-thirds of the appeal unmet, aid groups have warned they cannot reach everyone who needs food, nutrition treatment, clean water and protection services.

Gulf donors, including Qatar through the Qatar Fund for Development and Qatari humanitarian organisations, have long supported relief work in Somalia. The latest figures show how large the gap remains ahead of a flood season that could push more families into crisis.