Somalia Food Crisis Hits 6. 5 Million, UN-Backed Assessment Shows Mogadishu, Somalia — 25 February 2026 The number of Somalis facing crisis-level hunger has almost doubled in the past 12 months to 6. 5 million, according to a new evaluation released Tuesday by the UN-supported Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) initiative.
The February — March 2026 count shows the population in “crisis or worse” conditions rising from roughly 3. 4 million in early 2025. More than two million of those people are now classified in Phase 4, the “emergency” tier that precedes famine, the IPC report states.
Independent observers link the sharp deterioration to back — to-back poor rainy seasons, climbing food prices, and persistent insecurity across central, southern, and parts of northern Somalia.
A parallel drop in humanitarian deliveries has accelerated the downturn: the World Food Programme has already cut emergency food aid recipients from 2. 2 million in early 2025 to barely 600,000 this month.
Malnutrition figures are also climbing.
IPC analysts estimate that 1. 84 million children under five will face acute malnutrition during 2026, including 483,000 cases judged severe enough to require life-saving treatment.
Forecast models predict near — normal rainfall from April to June in most areas, with pockets of above-average precipitation.
Authorities caution, however, that the expected rains would deliver only a modest boost to overall food availability, since planting capacity has been eroded by displacement and seed shortages.
The UN food agency warned Friday that operations in Somalia could halt in April unless fresh funds arrive.
Officials have not yet detailed alternative supply plans should the shortfall persist. Further details are expected after scheduled donor briefings in Nairobi next week.
