Mogadishu, Somalia — The severe drought gripping Somalia is intensifying the country’s humanitarian crisis, with over 2 million people facing the risk of famine, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
The situation is particularly dire in the northern and central regions, where the lack of water and pasture has led to escalating food insecurity and a migration of pastoralists.
The OCHA analysis reveals that 1. 9 million people in the Sool, Sanaag, Bari, Nugaal, and Mudug regions are acutely food insecure. Humanitarian response efforts in these drought-affected areas are critically low, with an analysis of 12 districts showing that only four achieved a response rate of 25 to 50 per cent, seven were below 25 per cent, and one recorded no response at all.
Efforts to prepare for potential flooding have been stepped up, with humanitarian partners collaborating closely with authorities to conduct risk analysis, contingency planning, resource mapping, and early warning messaging in identified hotspots.
However, access constraints in several regions remain significant, disrupting humanitarian operations, limiting population movement, and delaying the delivery of life — saving assistance.
The displacement crisis has also worsened, with over 216,900 people displaced across the country during the second quarter of 2026, nearly three times the number recorded during the same period in 2025.
The international community is urged to continue working together to address this complex humanitarian situation and mitigate the risk of famine.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 5*
—
This original article was produced by the ImNews editorial team
Source: reliefweb
Source: UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
