Millions of people across Somalia are facing growing hardship as severe drought conditions tighten their grip, the United Nations has warned, painting a grim picture as the year draws to a close.
According to local authorities and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), more than 4.6 million people—nearly one-quarter of Somalia’s population—have been significantly affected by drought nationwide.
The UN says the situation has rapidly worsened in recent months. At least 120,000 people were displaced between September and December, driven from their homes by soaring water prices, rising food costs, dying livestock, and shrinking livelihoods.
“This is a perfect storm,” aid officials warn—less rain, fewer resources, and more pressure on families who were already living on the edge.
The crisis is also hitting education hard. More than 75,000 students across the country have dropped out of school, as families struggle to survive and children are forced to prioritize daily survival over classrooms.
Meanwhile, the humanitarian response is falling dangerously short.
Somalia’s 2025 Humanitarian Response Plan required $1.4 billion, but only about $370 million has been secured—roughly one-quarter of what is needed. Aid agencies say the funding gap is limiting lifesaving assistance just as needs peak.
As drought tightens its hold, the UN is urging donors and partners to step up urgently, warning that without immediate action, the situation could spiral into a deeper humanitarian catastrophe.
The numbers are cold. The reality on the ground is harsher. And for millions of Somali families, drought is no longer a forecast—it’s daily life.
