WFP Warns of ‘Catastrophic Conditions’ in Somalia as Funding Cuts Deepen
WFP Warns of ‘Catastrophic Conditions’ in Somalia as Funding Cuts Deepen
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The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that Somalia is on the brink of a catastrophic hunger crisis as international funding shortfalls force the agency to scale back vital assistance, Arab News reported on Thursday.
According to WFP figures cited by Arab News, more than 4.4 million people in Somalia are currently facing acute food insecurity, while 1.7 million children under the age of five suffer from malnutrition. Of these, 466,000 children are in a critical state, yet only 180,000 are receiving treatment due to resource constraints.
The report noted that the UN agency has been forced to suspend or reduce aid to hundreds of thousands as donations from major partners — including the United States and several European governments — have sharply declined. WFP now warns that by November 2025, up to 750,000 Somalis could be excluded from its emergency food distribution programs.
The WFP said it currently supports over 90 percent of Somalia’s food security operations, but that the scale of need now far exceeds available resources. The agency cautioned that without an urgent influx of funds, the country risks sliding into famine-like conditions in several regions.
Humanitarian groups cited by Arab News have warned that ongoing cuts could also lead to the closure of health and nutrition centers across the country. Some facilities have already shut down, leaving vulnerable populations without access to food and basic healthcare.
