Over 4.6 Million People Affected by Drought Across Somalia, UN Warns

More than 4.6 million people across Somalia nearly a quarter of the country’s population—have been affected by worsening drought conditions, according to the United Nations.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that humanitarian partners estimate at least 120,000 people were displaced between September and December, as water prices surged, food supplies dwindled, livestock perished, and livelihoods collapsed.

The impact on education has also been severe, with more than 75,000 students nationwide forced to drop out of school due to the crisis.

OCHA warned that the upcoming dry season, expected to run from January to March, is likely to further aggravate the drought situation. Anticipated impacts include increased water scarcity, higher livestock mortality, and a growing risk of food insecurity in many parts of the country.

The agency has called for urgent humanitarian assistance to prevent further destruction of livelihoods among pastoralist and farming communities and to avert avoidable loss of life.

In its report, OCHA cautioned that the next four months will be particularly critical, noting that the next rainy season is not expected until April 2026, leaving vulnerable communities exposed to prolonged hardship.

OCHA emphasized that the United Nations and its partners are ready to respond to the drought crisis by coordinating emergency interventions in water, food security, nutrition, health, and shelter. Humanitarian organizations are also providing cash assistance, livestock feed, and rehabilitating water wells, while conducting field visits to assess the scale of the crisis and identify resources for early action.

However, these efforts are being severely undermined by widespread funding shortages.

Last month, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, allocated USD 10 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), which provides rapid assistance during conflicts and climate-related disasters. Despite this contribution, OCHA stressed that significantly more funding is urgently required to address the escalating humanitarian needs across Somalia.