The population classified in IPC Acute Food Insecurity (AFI) Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse) has nearly doubled between February–March 2026 to a staggering 6.5 million people since early 2025. This includes more than 2 million people in IPC AFI Phase 4 (Emergency) and translates to 33 percent of the analysed population in urgent need assistance to save lives, reduce food deficits and protect livelihoods. 

This alarming deterioration is driven by worsening drought, rising food  prices, and insecurity across central, southern, and parts of northern Somalia. The situation is compounded by declining humanitarian assistance. Populations in agro-pastoral and pastoral livelihood zones and internally displaced people (IDPs) are expected to be hardest hit. 

Levels of acute malnutrition in Somalia have risen for two consecutive years. From January–December 2026, an estimated 1.84 million children under five are at risk of acute malnutrition, including 483,000 severe cases that require urgent treatment.

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