6.5 Million in Somalia Face Acute Food Insecurity, Including 1.8 Million Children

Somalia’s food and malnutrition crisis is expected to nearly double compared to the previous year, with about 6.5 million people projected to face acute food insecurity, as acute malnutrition rises for the second consecutive year, affecting more than 1.8 million children.

A report published by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) initiative revealed that key drivers such as poor rainfall, conflict and insecurity, displacement, and soaring food prices are major contributors to the worsening crisis.

The projected figure of 6.5 million is nearly double the 3.4 million recorded in the last analysis conducted in August 2025.

The situation is further compounded by reduced humanitarian assistance, with humanitarian food security assistance (HFSA) in January 2026 reaching only 17 percent of the 4.8 million people in need, the report added.

An estimated 1.84 million children aged 6-59 months are expected to suffer acute malnutrition between January and December 2026, including 483,000 severe cases requiring urgent treatment.

The situation is projected to deteriorate further between February and June 2026 due to worsening food insecurity and a high disease burden, exacerbated by reduced humanitarian funding that has limited access to health and nutrition services.

Internally displaced persons (IDPs) are among the most affected and face significant deterioration in their nutritional status.

The organization called for urgent, integrated, multi-sectoral interventions to prevent further deterioration and save the lives of children, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women (PBW).