The World Food Programme (WFP) has issued an urgent warning that its operations in Somalia could collapse by April 2026 unless $95 million in emergency funding is secured. With resources nearing depletion, the agency risks halting food assistance to 600,000 vulnerable people currently receiving aid—a stark drop from 2.2 million beneficiaries in early 2025.
Severe drought, exacerbated by two consecutive failed rainy seasons and conflict, has left 4.4 million Somalis—a quarter of the population—facing crisis-level hunger. Nearly one million people are experiencing severe food shortages, with families enduring crop failures, livestock losses, and displacement.
"We are at the cusp of a decisive moment. Without immediate action, we may fail to reach those most at risk," said Ross Smith, WFP’s Director of Emergency Preparedness and Response. The crisis echoes Somalia’s 2022 near-famine, which was only averted through rapid international intervention.
Humanitarian funding for Somalia has declined sharply this year, forcing WFP to reduce its reach even as needs escalate. The agency warns that suspended operations would deepen malnutrition rates and destabilize recovery efforts across the Horn of Africa.
