Millions of Somalis are on the brink of starvation as hunger across Somalia intensifies. The latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report warns that 4.4 million people could face acute food insecurity by the end of the year if no action is taken. The humanitarian crisis is driven by a convergence of extreme climate-induced weather events, rising food prices, conflict, and inadequate funding for humanitarian aid, which have pushed the country toward a humanitarian disaster that could erode progress on gender equality for women and girls.
“Women, the heart of their communities, are struggling to feed their families. Girls risk being pulled out of school to help at home or forced into early marriage,” said Ummy Dubow, CARE Somalia Country Director. “The worsening hunger crisis in Somalia will have devastating consequences for women and girls, who are often the first to suffer in times of extreme hardship. Many of the gains we have made in empowering women, improving maternal health, and increasing girls' access to education are at risk of being undone. We are particularly concerned about an increase in Sexual and Gender-based violence, which we have witnessed in past crises. Women and girls must travel longer in search of food and water, which exposes them to dangers.”
“The worsening hunger crisis in Somalia will have devastating consequences for women and girls, who are often the first to suffer in times of extreme hardship."Ummy Dubow, CARE Somalia Country Director
1.6 million children under five are at high risk of acute malnutrition, while 403,000 are facing severe acute malnutrition. The number of people who will face acute food insecurity is projected to reach 4.4 million due to below-average rainfall and the looming La Niña phenomenon. The crisis is particularly severe in the southern regions, where 66 percent of malnutrition cases are concentrated.
For families like that of Saynab, a mother of eight who was displaced from her home due to the drought, the hunger crisis is a harsh reality. After losing nearly all of her livestock, Saynab and her family were forced to flee to a nearby village with only seven surviving animals. Having previously been self-sufficient, Saynab and her children are struggling to survive, relying on scarce resources and suffering from malnutrition and illness.
"I have to collect firewood to sell in order to buy food for my family, and even then, we can only eat once a day."Saynab, a Somali mother of eight who was displaced from her home due to the drought.
"We used to have a good life when we had our animals," Saynab explained. "Now, we have nothing. I have to collect firewood to sell in order to buy food for my family, and even then, we can only eat once a day. My children became sick because of the lack of food. All I have to feed them is scraps from slaughtered camels."
“Saynab’s story is symbolic of the thousands of Somali families displaced by climate change and conflict, said Ummy Dubow. “Like her, many are forced to resort to extreme measures to survive, including reducing their meals to just once a day and scavenging for food scraps. Access to clean water is severely limited, further aggravating health conditions and increasing the risk of waterborne diseases. The situation is further worsened by dwindling international funding, putting at risk many lives.”
"The mothers and daughters face extraordinary challenges, yet they continue to fight for their families' wellbeing."Ali Nur, Director at Gargaar Relief and Development Organization (GREDO), a CARE partner.
Limited funding is severely hampering the ability of humanitarian agencies to provide life-saving interventions, including food, clean water, health services, and nutrition to affected communities. At present, 61% of the Somalia Humanitarian Response Plan remains unfunded.
"Every day, we witness the struggle that families, especially mothers, and children who come to our health centers, seeking care and support are experiencing due to the dry spell," says Ali Nur, Director at Gargaar Relief and Development Organization (GREDO), a CARE partner. "The mothers and daughters face extraordinary challenges, yet they continue to fight for their families' wellbeing. With the support of CARE, we can provide not only medical care but also hope — ensuring that every woman and child who enters our centers receives the compassion and treatment they deserve. Together, we are working to build healthier, stronger communities across Somalia but we need more support. We need to act now to save lives."
"Together, we are working to build healthier, stronger communities across Somalia but we need more support. We need to ACT NOW to save lives."Ali Nur, Director at Gargaar Relief and Development Organization (GREDO), a CARE partner.
Somalia faces the prospect of another challenging rainy season, with forecasts of below-average rainfall (La-Nina) through to March 2025 and above-normal temperatures. The international community must act swiftly to prevent further deterioration of the humanitarian crisis. CARE calls on the humanitarian community in Somalia to urgently scale up a multi-sectoral response to support vulnerable communities. As donors hopefully increase funding to facilitate the response, they must target Women-Led Organizations (WLOs), as they play a crucial role. According to CARE’s recent Women in War report, Somali women reported greater influence in decision-making and increased participation beyond traditional roles during times of crisis. The response should also increase early recovery efforts and resilience-building initiatives to help communities better cope with the impacts of climate change and conflicts.
The escalating hunger crisis in Somalia is a stark warning of the consequences of failing to act swiftly. Delaying aid will increase the toll of suffering and malnutrition and lead to the reversal of development progress made, especially for women and girls. The cost of inaction is too high.
For media inquiries, contact:
Walter Mawere, CARE Somalia Advocacy and Communications Coordinator: [email protected]
David Mutua, CARE East Central, & Southern Africa Regional Communications Advisor: via: [email protected]