Severe funding gaps undermine drought response in Somalia, affecting millions
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has reported that large-scale funding cuts are significantly hindering efforts to support millions of people in Somalia who are affected by the prolonged drought.
Local authorities estimate that over 4.6 million people—approximately one-quarter of the Somali population—are currently impacted by drought-related hardships.
"Partners indicate that at least 120,000 people were displaced between September and December, as water prices soar, food becomes increasingly scarce, livestock die, and livelihoods collapse, " OCHA said in the update released on Monday, December 22.
The situation is also disrupting education, with more than 75,000 students having dropped out of school nationwide. OCHA anticipates that the upcoming dry season, spanning January to March, will exacerbate existing drought conditions.
The agency warned of increased water shortages, further livestock deaths, and rising food insecurity across many regions.
"Authorities are appealing for urgent assistance to avert a possible collapse of pastoral and farming livelihoods and to prevent avoidable loss of life. They warn that the next four months will be critical, as the next rainy season is not expected until April 2026," the update stated.
Despite the challenges, OCHA confirmed that the UN and its partners are actively involved in the response. "Support includes assessments, mapping available supply stocks, and coordinating emergency responses across water, food, nutrition, health and shelter sectors."
Humanitarian teams are also delivering cash assistance, distributing animal fodder, rehabilitating boreholes, and conducting field visits to monitor conditions and prepare for early interventions, according to OCHA. However, these operations are severely limited by ongoing financial constraints.
Earlier this month, it was reported that over 680 staff members with UN agencies in Somalia had been laid off since the beginning of 2025, following widespread funding shortages that have disrupted various humanitarian and development programs.
In response to the crisis, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher allocated $10 million from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) to support immediate needs. OCHA emphasised that "substantially more support is urgently needed."
The Somali NGO Consortium (SNC) also voiced concern over the deteriorating situation.
“The resources required to save lives are shrinking while communities grow more desperate. Somalia cannot afford to reverse the hard-won progress of recent years,” Nimo Hassan, Director of the Somali NGO Consortium, said in a December 14 press release.
With just days before the end of 2025, officials indicate that the humanitarian response plan for Somalia had received only about $370 million of the $1.4 billion required, representing just one-quarter of the total funding target.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
