Food Insecurity Cripples Somalia as Child Malnutrition Cases Near 2M
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) initiative warned that 6.5 million people are expected to experience severe acute food insecurity — classified as IPC Acute Food Insecurity Phase 3 or above — during the February–March 2026 dry season. That figure represents a near-doubling from the 3.4 million people who faced similar conditions in the first quarter of 2025.
Compounding the crisis is a dramatic shortfall in humanitarian aid. In January 2026, food security assistance delivered by humanitarian organizations reached just 17% of the 4.8 million people in need, according to the IPC, a UN-led initiative.
The toll on children is particularly alarming. "From January-December 2026, an estimated 1.84 million cases of children aged 6–59 months are expected to suffer acute malnutrition, including 483,000 severe cases that require urgent treatment," the report said.
In response to the mounting emergency, Somalia, the UN, and humanitarian partners unveiled the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan last month. The initiative is seeking $852 million to deliver lifesaving humanitarian and protection assistance to 2.4 million of the country's most vulnerable people.
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