Malnutrition Crisis Deepens as Aid Funding Falls by Over 80%
Funding for efforts to tackle acute malnutrition in Somalia has fallen by more than 80 per cent this year, even as the number of children suffering from severe hunger continues to rise, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has warned.
The medical charity said it has treated about 22,000 nutrition cases so far in 2026, representing an increase of more than 80 per cent compared with the previous year. A survey conducted across 14 displacement sites in Baidoa, southwestern Somalia, also found that one in four children screened was severely malnourished, while many families reported struggling to secure adequate food.
MSF attributed the worsening situation to prolonged drought, repeated failed rainy seasons, conflict and displacement, which have damaged livelihoods and reduced access to food, water and healthcare. The organisation said donor funding available for Somalia has fallen to about $300 million, compared with roughly $2.2 billion during the 2022 drought crisis. It also reported that more than half a million people were displaced during the first three months of 2026, with drought accounting for most of the displacement.
The charity warned that the funding gap could further weaken the humanitarian response as hunger spreads across vulnerable communities. With Somalia facing conditions reminiscent of the 2022 crisis that brought the country close to famine, aid organisations have urged donors to increase support before the situation deteriorates further and more lives are lost.
