The number of people facing acute food insecurity in Somalia has nearly doubled to 6.5 million, according to new analysis from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).
The figure marks a sharp rise from 3.4 million in early 2025, driven by drought, conflict, displacement and high food prices.
The failed October–December Deyr rains reduced crop production, hitting poor farmers, pastoralists and internally displaced communities hardest.
Key developments:
• 6.5 million people classified in IPC Phase 3 or above (Crisis level or worse)
• Over 2 million in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency)
• 1.84 million children under five projected to face acute malnutrition
• 483,000 cases of severe acute malnutrition (SAM), the deadliest form, according to UNICEF
The crisis is expected to worsen during the dry Jilaal season through March. While forecasts suggest average Gu rains from April to June, food insecurity is likely to remain widespread.
The IPC has called for urgent scale-up of humanitarian assistance, particularly in hotspot areas where hunger and malnutrition intersect.
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