Families in Somalia pushed to the brink amid severe hunger; urgent food aid needed to avert worsening conditions.
Published On 20 Feb 2026
Life‑saving emergency food and nutrition assistance provided by the World Food Programme (WFP) in Somalia could be forced to a halt by April due to a lack of funding, the United Nations agency has said.
In a report published on Friday, the WFP warned that the country is facing one of the most complex hunger crises in recent years, driven by two consecutive failed rainy seasons, conflict and a sharp drop in humanitarian funding.
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The warning comes as at least 4.4 million people, roughly a quarter of the population, face crisis-levels of food insecurity or worse, including nearly one million women, men and children experiencing severe hunger, according to WFP data.
Ranked among the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries, Somalia has endured recurrent droughts and floods.
“The situation is deteriorating at an alarming rate. Families have lost everything, and many are already being pushed to the brink. Without immediate emergency food support, conditions will worsen quickly,” said Ross Smith, WFP director of emergency preparedness and response. “We are at the cusp of a decisive moment; without urgent action, we may be unable to reach the most vulnerable in time, most of them women and children.”
The WFP, the largest humanitarian agency active in Somalia, said it has already been forced to reduce the number of people receiving emergency food assistance from