Heavy rainfall and flooding across Somalia – exacerbated by the lingering effects of previous droughts – have driven 4 million people (21 percent of the population) into high levels of food insecurity, classified as IPC Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse) between January and March 2024. 

Of these, 3.2 million people (17 percent of the population) are IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and around 800,000 people (4 percent of the population) are experiencing worse conditions in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency). In comparison to the same period last year, when approximately 5 million people were classified in Phase 3 or above due to the protracted drought, the current figure represents a 20 percent reduction in the number of food insecure people. This is attributed to increased rainfall over the past two seasons which has positively impacted livelihoods as well as sustained humanitarian assistance.

In the projected period from April to June 2024, when normal to above-normal Gu rains are anticipated, further improvement of the food security situation is expected. As a result, the number of people facing Phase 3 or above is expected to decline by 15 percent to 3.4 million people. Most of this improvement is expected in rural areas where enhanced pasture and water for livestock and increased agricultural activities in crop-dependent areas are foreseen. 

Response Priorities

• Urgent funding to scale up and sustain humanitarian food and cash assistance. 
• Anticipatory action ahead of anticipated flooding during the forthcoming Gu season and Desert Locust in tandem with investment in climate-resilient agriculture and food systems to enhance households’ capacity to mitigate risks and shocks.
• Against the backdrop of high needs and limited resources, there is need for all humanitarian actors to improve targeting procedures to ensure assistance is reaching the people most in need, including marginalized communities and inaccessible locations.
• Strengthening area-based and integrated responses to newly displaced people and communities in newly accessible areas, including rural areas.
• In addition to humanitarian assistance, complementary funding is required for recover, development and peace-building efforts is needed to ensure sustainable progress in reducing humanitarian needs in the mid and long-term.