An estimated 1.85 million children aged 6 – 59 months are expected to suffer acute malnutrition and need urgent treatment between July 2025 and June 2026. This includes approximately 421,000 cases of children likely to suffer Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), and 1.43 million children likely to suffer Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM). Notably, around 65 percent of the total acute malnutrition burden is concentrated in southern Somalia. Compared to the same season last year, the expected burden represents a 12 and 5 percent increase for GAM and SAM, respectively.

Regarding the severity of the acute malnutrition situation, between June and September 2025, out of the 47 analysed areas, 18 are classified in IPC AMN Phase 4 (Critical). These include IDPs in Bossaso (Bari), Galkacyo (Mudug), Mogadishu (Banadir), Baidoa (Bay), Kismayo (Lower Juba), and Dhusa Mareeb (Galgadud). Urban populations in Bossaso, Dhusaareb and Beled eyne towns are also classified in IPC AMN Phase 4 as well as some rural areas of Beled Weyne rural (riverine and agropastoral), Shabelle riverine, Shabelle agropastoral, Bay agropastoral, West Golis pastoral and Hawd pastoral of Central regions, all of which were assessed based on Weight-for-Height z-scores. Other areas in Phase 4 include the Juba riverine, and Harardhere and Ceel Dheere districts, analysed using GAM based on MUAC, and Jalalasqi and Buloburte districts, classified employing the IPC AMN protocols for extrapolating data from similar areas. Moreover, a total of 19 population groups are classified in IPC AMN Phase 3 (Serious). This includes 12 rural populations, namely, Agropastoral of Northwest, Northern Inland pastoral of Northwest, East Golis pastoral (Sanag and Bari), Coastal Deeh pastoral of Northeast, Addun pastoral, Bakool Southern inland pastoral (Elberde), North Gedo pastoral – SIP, North Gedo riverine, South Gedo pastoral, South Gedo riverine and Juba cattle pastoral. Additionally, five urban populations in Galkacyo, Mogadishu, and Dolow, and two IDPs settlements in Garowe and Dolow are facing Serious (IPC AMN Phase 3) levels of acute malnutrition.

• Advocate with donors to secure predictable funding for procurement and distribution of nutrition supplies for SAM and MAM treatment, while also increasing investment in prevention, resilience, and nutrition-sensitive interventions.
• Fast-track the implementation of the new Integrated Management of Acute Malnutrition (IMAM) guidelines to strengthen a holistic nutrition response integrating both treatment and prevention for all vulnerable groups.
• Strengthen the integration of nutrition into the public health system so that nutrition treatment and counselling are routinely provided in all health facilities.
• Rationalise nutrition services to minimise duplication, ensure optimal use of available resources, and provide equitable access to services across all areas, including rural and underserved locations.
• Scale up nutrition services in hard-to-reach and rural areas through outreach approaches and Integrated Community Case Management (ICCM+).
• Implement multisector integration with Health, WASH, and Food Security, with a focus on referrals, joint registrations, and harmonized community messaging.
• Expand resilience programming, including nutrition-sensitive agriculture and cash-plus interventions, to improve nutrition outcomes.
• Develop a robust integrated early warning system using existing data sources, particularly those linked to nutrition outcomes, and ensure findings trigger timely response.
• Continue mass MUAC screening, especially among IDPs, and explore the feasibility of “find and treat” approaches for newly arrived IDP populations.