Somalia is facing a worsening hunger crisis after repeated failed rainy seasons devastated crops, killed livestock and depleted water supplies.
Already struggling to contain a two-decade-old insurgency by the al Shabaab militant group and stave off famine, the federal government has been facing growing armed resistance from state governments.
In February, the Somali government and the United Nations said about 6.5 million people in the country faced acute hunger due to drought.
It comes amid significant cuts in funding of aid agencies working in Somalia.
UNICEF Global Spokesperson James Elder said the country was coming close to another famine.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today programme with Sharon Tobin, he said, “people are enduring multiple and repeated climate shocks”, as well as dealing with widespread conflict.
He said hundreds of health and nutrition facilities have closed due to cuts to aid funding.
“We’ve seen aids cuts that are pretty much unprecedented since the UN was founded, but I didn’t think we’d see them have the impact they’re having as quickly as they are.”
He said: “The cost of war in Iran is about food and fertilizer, fuel that people need and those cuts in aid are very stark and we’re seeing the impact very, very quickly.”
Mr Elder added: “The injustice in a way is staggering for people here; the climate crisis is playing a huge role.”
Half a million people displaced
According to the United Nations, more than half a million people were displaced in Somalia in the first three months of 2026, with drought driving virtually all of the movement. Women and children accounted for about 85% of those displaced.
The crisis is reviving fears of a repeat of Somalia’s 2022 near-famine, but aid agencies say the response is being constrained by severe funding shortfalls.
Funding to tackle acute malnutrition in parts of Somalia has dropped by more than 80% this year, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has said.
MSF Health Adviser Mitchell Sangma said the United States had cut its support to aid agencies in the country from $70 million last year to no funding this year, leaving aid groups struggling to respond as needs rise. Other Western donors have also cut funding.
“This year we have admitted 22,000 nutrition cases, more than 80% higher than last year. When we need this massive scale-up in intervention measures, we are seeing less interest from donor support,” Mr Sangma said.
MSF has said there is only about $300 million available for Somalia from donors, compared to $2.2 billion that was provided by donors in 2022 when a similar drought situation was experienced.
“The world cannot wait for a famine declaration before acting,” said Allara Ali, MSF’s project coordinator in Somalia. “Action is needed now to prevent loss of lives.”
RTE.