SOMALIA: Children Facing Catastrophic Hunger as Drought Decimates Crops, Livestock
- Save The Children
- Jan 28
- 1 min read
Original Author:Ā Save the Children
Original Publication:Ā Save the Children
Date:Ā January 27, 2026
Curated Excerpt (Fair Use)
This report warns of a catastrophic hunger crisis facing children in Somalia after four consecutive failed rainy seasons decimated crops, livestock, and household food reserves. Save the Childrenās assessment across six regions found that up to 93 percent of households now have poor food consumption, with families skipping meals, selling essential assets, and withdrawing children from school to survive.
According to the findings, the crisis is rapidly worsening as Somalia enters the dry season, with 4.4 million people projected to face crisis-level hunger and nearly 1.85 million children under five at risk of acute malnutrition through mid-2026. Funding cuts have sharply reduced food assistance and forced the closure of more than 200 health and nutrition facilities nationwide.
The report highlights severe impacts on childrenās health, education, and protection, warning that the coming months are critical to preventing avoidable deaths. Save the Children calls for urgent international action to scale up humanitarian funding, prioritize nutrition and health services, and invest in long-term resilience to prevent recurring famine cycles.
About the Organization
Save the Children is an international humanitarian organization working in Somalia since 1951, delivering life-saving health, nutrition, education, and child protection services in emergencies and protracted crises.
Editorial Note
This is a curated report from an external humanitarian organization. All findings and viewpoints belong to the original publisher. Gallaydh.com curates external research and reporting to promote informed public understanding and critical engagement with issues affecting the Horn of Africa.
