New assessment finds drought pushing Somali families to the brink as hunger becomes nearly universal

A deepening drought, compounded by conflict and a sharp decline in funding, is pushing families to the brink. Children are among the hardest hit, with more than 1.8 million under the age of five facing acute malnutrition, including over half a million likely to be severely malnourished.

A new assessment by SOS Children’s Villages Somalia, conducted across 15 of the hardest-hit drought districts, reveals that Somali families are being pushed to the very edge of survival, with hunger now nearly universal and basic services on the brink of collapse.

The Multi-Sector Needs Assessment (MSNA), conducted between 12 and 22 April, finds that between 78% and 100% of households have reduced their meals, with some families going entire days without food. A 108% surge in food and fuel prices has deepened the crisis, leaving even host communities struggling to cope.

“High prices, low income, and reduced assistance have made it impossible for us to eat three meals a day,” said one community leader interviewed during the assessment.

Families are exhausting every possible coping mechanism. Borrowing food is now nearly universal, while caregivers, especially mothers, are skipping meals so that their children can eat. Many households face devastating choices between buying water or food, with lasting consequences for children’s health, nutrition, and development.

Illness and malnutrition soaring as health services falter

The assessment finds illness levels reaching up to 88% in some districts, yet access to healthcare remains critically uneven. In several areas, ‘empty shell’ health facilities exist but lack medicines, equipment, and staff, leaving communities without essential care.

Nutrition services are also under severe strain, with high relapse rates among malnourished children due to the absence of sustained food, clean water, and follow‑up care. Without integrated support, many children risk sliding back into acute malnutrition even after treatment.

Unsafe water and poor sanitation driving disease

Water scarcity is compounding the crisis. In some districts, access to safe drinking water is as low as 32.5%, forcing families to rely on unsafe sources that increase the risk of diarrheal diseases and other infections. Poor sanitation and hygiene conditions further expose children to illness, reinforcing a dangerous cycle of disease and undernutrition.

Displacement, unsafe shelters, and rising protection risks

The MSNA report highlights how displacement is deepening families’ vulnerability. Many are living in overcrowded, makeshift shelters with little protection from the elements and no privacy. Women and children face heightened protection risks due to unsafe living conditions, lack of lighting, and insecure sanitation facilities.

Education is also under severe pressure. In some areas, school enrolment has dropped sharply as children are withdrawn from classrooms to help their families survive by working, fetching water, or caring for siblings.

Most affected: displaced families, women, and children

The assessment identifies internally displaced persons, female‑headed households, and families with children as the most severely affected, facing overlapping risks across food security, health, water and sanitation, and protection.

Despite these extreme needs, the assessment also reveals significant gaps in humanitarian response. In some districts, no households reported receiving assistance, highlighting a dangerous mismatch between urgent needs and available support.

The assessment identified the following priority areas:

• Expanding food and cash support to the most vulnerable households.
• Strengthening health and nutrition services, with a focus on preventing and treating child malnutrition.
• Improving water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) access to reduce disease and support nutrition.
• Restoring education for crisis‑affected children through flexible and safe learning opportunities.
• Enhancing child protection and gender‑sensitive protection systems, particularly in displacement sites.

SOS Children’s Villages calls for urgent, integrated response

SOS Children’s Villages is on the ground delivering multisectoral support to children and families affected by the crisis, including health and nutrition, water and sanitation, climate-resilient livelihoods, and protection, among others. However, needs continue to outpace available resources and are growing rapidly as the situation evolves.

SOS Children’s Villages Somalia has launched an emergency appeal to address these growing needs. Running from May 2026 to April 2028, the appeal aims to reach nearly 700,000 people across 9 regions in South Central Somalia and Somaliland, focusing on integrated support in nutrition, health, WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), protection, education, and food security.

Abdikadir Dakane, National Director of SOS Children’s Villages Somalia, said:

“This crisis is unfolding in plain sight, and its impact on children is devastating. Families are not just facing hunger; they are facing the collapse of the basic systems that protect children and secure their future. On the ground, our health and nutrition teams are facing impossible choices: which life to save today and who will have to wait until tomorrow.”

“Without urgent and sustained support, more children risk losing access to education, and more families will be pushed into situations of vulnerability. The long-term consequences for children and their development could be profound. We must act now to scale up integrated, life-saving responses that address the interconnected nature of this crisis and help children, young people, and families rebuild stability and move forward.”

As Somalia faces yet another severe drought, communities are sending a clear message: resilience alone is no longer enough. Repeated shocks are pushing families beyond their capacity to cope, increasing the risk that children will lose the care and protection they need.

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