Attachments
In Numbers
981,000 people assisted
USD 5 million delivered via cash-based transfers
4,933 mt of in-kind food assistance distributed 47%
USD 129 million six months net funding requirements (January - June 2026)
Situation Update
• Somalia is experiencing a rapidly escalating drought emergency, with the failure of the 2025 Deyr rains and persistent high temperatures leading to severe water and food shortages, widespread crop failure, and significant livestock losses across multiple regions. The Federal Government declared a national drought emergency in November as drought conditions spread to both northern and southern areas, triggering mass displacement, surging water prices, and the closure of schools and health facilities. Nearly 4.4 million Somalis, almost a quarter of the population, are projected to face acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or worse), and 1.85 million children under five are at risk of acute malnutrition. Vulnerable groups, including women, children, and persons with disabilities, are disproportionately affected, with many communities facing critical shortages of essential services and protection risks.
• The humanitarian response is severely constrained by funding shortfalls, as of late November, only 23.4% of the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan is funded, forcing agencies to scale back or close critical programmes. Urgent resource mobilization is needed to avert further loss of life and address the escalating crisis.
Operational Updates
Humanitarian Food Assistance
• WFP provided life-saving food assistance to 442,000 people across Somalia in November, delivering USD 3.3 million in cash-based transfers and 4,048 mt of in-kind food to vulnerable communities.
• Funding shortfalls have limited WFP’s ability to assist the most vulnerable, with life‑saving support reaching only 500,000 people, less than one in ten of those in need. Since November 2025, cash‑based transfers have been reduced by over 80 percent, severely impacting IPC Phase 4 areas where cash remains the only viable delivery option due to access constraints. As a result, WFP is currently assisting just 30 percent of the IPC Phase 4 population.
Nutrition Support
• In November, WFP provided specialized nutrition support to 371,000 children under five and pregnant and breastfeeding women and girls to prevent and manage acute malnutrition.
• WFP is working closely with the Government of Somalia, and partners to advance evidence-based nutrition planning aligned with the National Transformation Plan (2025–2029). The Fill the Nutrient Gap (FNG) analysis, led by WFP, revealed that nearly half of Somali households cannot afford a nutritious diet, leaving vulnerable group, including young children, adolescent girls, and breastfeeding women, facing significant nutrition challenges. Through a multi-sectoral process involving government, UN agencies and development partners, recommendations have been finalized to guide integrated actions that strengthen food systems, improve affordability and ensure equitable access to nutritious diet. These efforts aim to create a strong foundation for long-term nutrition resilience.