Humanitarian overview
Nearly three decades of conflict, insecurity, political fragility, recurrent climatic shocks and increasing economic pressure have had devastating impacts on millions of people in Somalia. Somalis are facing compounding crises, with the number of people in need progressively increasing over the past years. Some 8.25 million people in Somalia – half of the population – require lifesaving assistance; 60 per cent of them are children. More than 3.8 million Somalis are displaced (internally or across borders), with 1.4 million displaced in the past year alone. A fifth of the population, 3.7 million people, are facing high levels of acute food insecurity. 1.5 million children are acutely or severely malnourished.
Although the latest wet season in spring 2023 brought rain and the projected famine was averted, the impact of the extended drought persists. Climate shocks like droughts and floods are likely to occur more frequently, making Somalia highly vulnerable to the impact of climate change.
Funding levels for humanitarian response in Somalia remain low. Consequently, the basic needs of communities remain unmet, as underfunding causes gaps in critical lifesaving assistance.
