Attachments
The humanitarian situation in Somalia remained fragile amid a constrained funding environment globally in 2026.
According to the new IPC Report, Somalia’s hunger crisis is rapidly deteriorating. By March, onethird of the population—about 6.5 million people—faced "crisis" levels of hunger or worse, representing a jump of 1.7 million people in just two months (January 2026). By March, 2 million people were in the "emergency" phase (IPC 4), the level just before famine, over 1.8 million children under age 5 were projected to suffer from acute malnutrition cutting across 2026, with nearly 500,000 of them in critical condition and in need urgent treatment. The extreme dry weather has killed off crops and livestock, forcing families to leave their homes in search of food and water.
Elsewhere, education has been hit hard, with 796 schools affected. Currently, 344 schools have closed their doors, and more than 121,000 children have been forced to drop out.
Security Situation: In March 2026, Somalia’s security environment grew increasingly precarious.
In Southwest State, political standoffs escalated into a federal takeover of Baidoa on 30 March, leading to significant civilian displacement and President Laftagareen’s resignation.
Parliamentarians subsequently condemned the alleged diversion of elite Turkish-trained units and drones from counterterrorism to internal political conflicts, citing risks to sovereignty and international legal compliance. Nationwide, security incidents surged from 49 to 74 weekly. This volatility included persistent Al-Shabaab insurgency in southern and central regions, localized clan conflicts, and rising urban criminality. Notable weekly data includes 10 terrorism-related incidents, a sharp rise in armed clashes (from 8 to 21), and 23 crime-related incidents. Despite northern regions remaining relatively stable, the overall landscape faces heightened fragility and displacement.
Access Status: In quarter 1 2026 (January-March), conflict and election-related tensions in Southwest State caused high access constraints, mimicking 2024 disruptions in Lower Juba.
Operational impacts included program delays, restricted staff movement, and a shift toward costly air transport. These security challenges necessitated staff withdrawals from conflict zones and heightened management requirements. Maintaining operations now requires navigating volatile environments where political friction directly hampers vital humanitarian delivery.
The outlook for quarter 2 predicts persistent challenges from conflict, electoral transitions, and flooding. Al-Shabaab has consolidated control in Middle and Lower Shabelle following government withdrawals, imposing checkpoints and heavy taxation. These trends necessitate early engagement and conflict-sensitive planning. Partners should anticipate prolonged negotiations and restricted movement as Al-Shabaab maintains territorial dominance.
Strengthening contingency measures is vital as administrative interference and climatic shocks further complicate the operating environment.