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Somalia Food Insecurity Crisis

A woman wearing a dark green covering sits on the sandy ground near a tent.

CARE / Saddam Mohamed

CARE / Saddam Mohamed

Emergencies

The 2020-2023 drought, considered the most severe in four decades, brought the country to the brink of famine resulting in an estimated 43,000 deaths.

About the crisis in Somalia

A cycle of drought and floods has brought Somalia to the brink of famine

An estimated 6.9 million people – nearly two out of five Somalis – need humanitarian support and 4 million people – 21% of the population – are faced with severe food shortages in the country. The 2020-2023 drought, considered the most severe in four decades, brought the country to the brink of famine resulting in an estimated 43,000 deaths. The drought was followed by heavy flooding caused by the Deyr rainy season exacerbated by El Niño from October to December was the worst seen in decades, contributing to the worsening humanitarian situation.

Somalia’s population is battered by climate extremes, with the worst drought in decades followed by the most extensive floods in generations within just a few months. Following four consecutive failed rainfall seasons, floods affected more than 2.5 million people, inundating over 1.5 million hectares of farmland. The floods damaged or destroyed critical water, sanitation, health, education, and logistics infrastructure, threatening to reverse modest gains from infrastructure investments in previous years.

Climatic shocks and conflict displaced a record 2.9 million people in 2023 alone. Many people who fled their homes – 2.3 million, or 75% of the population – were displaced by climate shocks. Women and girls are the majority of the displaced population, and this has exposed them to increased risks of abuse.

Climate shock has displaced more than 2.3 million people from their homes and killed thousands of livestock. Photo credit: CARE / Saddam Mohamed

Somalis face hunger, malnutrition, and poor healthcare

Almost two-thirds of the displaced households have no access to clean water, and this has led to an outbreak of acute diarrhea and cholera with over 123 deaths recorded in the first six months of 2024.

A staggering 4 million people suffer from acute hunger and malnutrition. Internally displaced people are in most severe need. Projected below average rainfall, La Niña during the last quarter of 2024 through to 2025 in the Horn of Africa will further worsen the hunger situation in Somalia.

Approximately 1.5 million children under the age of five are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition through 2024 without immediate action.

People struggle to physically access healthcare and to pay for it. The Somali health system remains weak, disrupted by decades of conflict and inadequate investments in infrastructure, maintenance, and technical personnel. Somalia ranks among the lowest in health security globally, as its morbidity and mortality levels continue to be among the worst worldwide.

The top three barriers to accessing healthcare in Somalia are: absence of a functional health facility, unaffordability of treatment or medicines, and lack of required medicines, treatment, or services.

4

million

people in Somalia are suffering from acute hunger and malnutrition.

How to help Somalia: What CARE is doing

Recent CARE assessments have shown a gendered impact of the drought conditions as well as of the El Niño of October-December 2023. Sexual and gender-based violence has increased during the pandemic and CARE supported survivors with clinical and psychosocial support. Prevailing drought, armed conflict, and floods have exacerbated displacement of women and girls in Somalia, further driving them into deprivation, poverty, and a sense of helplessness.

CARE has adopted a multi-pronged approach to ensure the interventions address the diverse needs of the populations affected and make our programs more impactful. CARE is supporting communities with water and hygiene, nutrition, and cash to assist to cover immediate food needs. CARE is also providing primary health services, feeding programs for infants and children, and treatment for those with moderate and severe acute malnutrition.

CARE has been providing emergency relief and lifesaving assistance in Somalia since 1981. Our main program activities have included projects in water, sanitation and hygiene, health/nutrition, cash and voucher assistance, protection including gender-based violence, education in emergencies, small-scale enterprise development, and vocational training. We work in partnership with national and international aid agencies, UN agencies, civil society leaders, and local authorities.

*Last updated October 2024