** A devastating drought, coupled with drastically reduced aid, threatens to plunge Somalia back into a catastrophic famine, mirroring the horrors of 2011.
📍 ** Somalia, Mogadishu
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The humanitarian landscape in Somalia is spiraling towards disaster as a relentless drought, compounded by a severe lack of international aid, pushes millions towards starvation. Save the Children’s latest report, “When Aid Disappears, Childhood Disappears Too,” paints a grim picture, revealing that the situation is rapidly deteriorating and could soon replicate the devastating 2011 famine that claimed over 257,000 lives. Initial projections in early 2025 indicated crisis-level food insecurity for 3.4 million people, but a year later, this number has ballooned to a staggering 6.5 million, a direct consequence of massive cuts in international funding and predicted poor rainfall for October-December 2025.
The response to the unfolding crisis has been critically hampered by drastically reduced funding. In 2024, only 57.7% of Somalia’s Humanitarian Response Plan was funded, offering a lifeline. However, by April 2026, funding has plummeted to a mere 15%, the lowest level at this time of year on record. This has led to the closure of over 300 vital nutrition facilities, severely limiting access to treatment for child malnutrition and dramatically scaled-back preventive programs. The looming threat of further delays and shortages, exacerbated by global supply chain disruptions linked to conflict, adds to the urgency.
Despite enduring a history of repeated crises - including the devastating 2011 famine and ongoing conflict – Somali families are demonstrating remarkable resilience. However, this strength alone is not enough. As Save the Children Country Director Mohamud Mohamed Hassan stated, “When aid is scaled up, lives are saved; when it disappears, so do childhoods.” Immediate and substantial funding is urgently needed to prevent further loss of life and protect the next generation.
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Original Source: Link
** #Somalia #Famine #Drought #HumanitarianCrisis #AidShortage #ChildHunger #ClimateChange #SaveTheChildren