Somalia: 6. 5 Million on Brink of Hunger Crisis, Warns ICRC. Mogadishu, Somalia — March 3, 2026 — The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has issued a dire warning, stating that 6.
5 million people in Somalia are on the brink of an acute hunger crisis due to prolonged drought.
The situation is exacerbated by two consecutive failed rainy seasons, which have led to devastating impacts on the country’s pastoralism, a vital livelihood for over 60% of Somalis. Livestock deaths have soared, stripping families of both food and income.
Abdulkadir Mohamed Farah, a herder in Galmudug, has lost 90% of his goats and two-thirds of his camels in less than a year. “
We are facing a lack of rain.
The livestock, both camels and goats, have been lost.
Now we fear that people may follow, “he.
The ICRC’s Mohamed Sheikh, an officer in Galmudug, attributes the crisis to a combination of drought and conflict. “
The fighting has caused displacement.
The drought is also causing displacement.
The needs are increasing, and the situation will become desperate if the rains don’t come soon, “he warned. Aid cuts are compounding the crisis, forcing programs to close and reducing food, water, health, and livelihood support at a time of rising need.
Without urgent rainfall and increased funding, the ICRC cautions that millions could slip into emergency levels of hunger.
The situation echoes the catastrophic hunger crisis of 2022, with thousands of families forced to abandon rural areas in search of water and assistance.
As animals die and wells run dry, displacement camps and larger towns are seeing an influx of families seeking help.
Further details are expected as the situation unfolds, with the ICRC and other aid organizations working to address the crisis.
The long — term solutions to mitigate the impact of future droughts on the Somali population are also under consideration.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 4*
