Somalia facing severe famine risk as drought devastates livelihoods

The Horn of Africa nation of Somalia stands on the brink of disaster as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) warns of a catastrophic escalation in food insecurity. Nearly 6.5 million people are already grappling with severe hunger, compounded by relentless drought conditions that have ravaged essential livelihoods across the country.

Collapse of pastoralism threatens food security

Following two consecutive seasons of inadequate rainfall, experts are sounding alarms over a potential return to the devastating hunger levels seen in 2022. Pastoralism, the backbone of Somalia’s economy and a lifeline for over 60% of the population, is rapidly collapsing. Mass livestock losses are stripping families of critical food sources and income, forcing thousands to seek refuge in overcrowded displacement camps.

In Dhusamareb, a 61-year-old herder has lost 90% of his goats and two-thirds of his camels within a year. « I fear the people will suffer the same fate as my animals, » he shares. Meanwhile, in the Nugal region, a 19-year-old mother fled after her entire herd perished, desperate to safeguard her children’s survival.

Mass displacements strain humanitarian aid

Over half a million people were displaced in 2025 alone, fleeing both conflict and drought, particularly in the rugged Al-Miskat hills of the Puntland region of Bari. Shrinking humanitarian funding is forcing aid groups to scale back food distributions, water access initiatives, and healthcare services—despite surging demand. The situation has reached a breaking point.

Since November 2025, the ICRC has provided critical support to over 5,000 displaced families, rehabilitating boreholes in Bari and Sanaag, distributing equipment to restore water wells, and treating severely malnourished children at the Kismayo stabilization center. The organization also backs 11 clinics operated by the Somali Red Crescent Society.

A warning of impending catastrophe

« Without immediate rainfall and a substantial boost in humanitarian aid, millions more could plunge deeper into food emergencies, » cautions the ICRC. Somalia is at a pivotal moment—every day without action heightens the risk of a full-blown humanitarian disaster.