Help Children in Somalia
Save the Children has been working in Somalia since 1951, delivering life-saving health, nutrition, education and protection services. In 2024, Save the Children reached 3.2 million people, including 1.9 million children.
Today, hunger – already at dire levels across Somalia - is on the rise, as extreme weather continues to wreak havoc on the region. Faced with massive funding cuts, nutrition centers and health facilities have been forced to close, leaving over 55,000 children without access to life-saving nutrition services since June.
Flash flooding, below-average rainfall, high food prices and ongoing conflict have combined to drive hunger levels up 30% across Somalia.
Famine Warning in Somalia: 5 Things to Know
1. In 2011, famine in Somalia killed 260,000 people, half of whom were children. Today, as Somalia is crippled by its worst drought in 40 years as well as rising food prices and conflict, the UN is warning of famine in parts of Somalia within months.
2. More than half of children aged under five in Somalia are facing acute malnutrition with one in six suffering from the most deadly form of malnutrition.
3. New Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) figures said the number of children estimated to be suffering acute malnutrition had risen to 1.8 million, or 54.5%, which is an increase of 20% from previous forecasts.
4. Nearly 6.7 million people in Somalia—41% of the population—are expected to be battling widespread food shortages between October and December this year, which is an increase of nearly 2.4 million people from previous figures.
5. Four consecutive poor or failed harvests since 2020, escalating local and imported food prices, the deaths of more than three million livestock, and drought and conflict-induced population displacement have combined to create a life-threatening emergency.
What is the impact of the Climate Crisis on Somalia?
Somalia is at the epicenter of what is being called the world's deadliest climate change disaster.
"With the number of climate-related disasters tripling in the past 30 years, frequent and recurring climate shocks—such as drought, flooding, and cyclones—are repeatedly decimating farming and livestock, driving population displacement, and pushing millions into acute hunger," said Save the Children’s Country Director in Somalia, Mohamud Mohamed Hassan.
"The great tragedy of hunger in Somalia is that the country has been one of the lowest contributors to the climate crisis, and yet is feeling the impact most severely. Right now, the Horn of Africa is experiencing an extreme, persistent drought after four consecutive failed rainy seasons—a climatic event not seen in at least 40 years—and it’s set to get worse."
How You’re Changing Children’s Lives
Thanks to giving people like you, our work for children in Somalia is making a difference.
Save the Children has worked in Somalia since 1951. As the country faces one of its worst droughts in decades, alarming numbers of children — an estimated 1.5 million— could be facing severe acute malnutrition by October.
Save the Children is already working to help affected communities in Somalia to cope with the immediate humanitarian effects of drought. We are providing emergency water supplies, treating children who are malnourished, supporting education systems so that children do not miss vital learning while displaced by drought, running health facilities, and providing cash and livelihood support to the most vulnerable.
As clean water becomes harder to find, cholera has spread among Somalia’s children and families. To control the spread of the disease, we’ve established a cholera task force and are delivering ready-to-eat therapeutic food to hard-hit areas. Save the Children is also training nurses and doctors to expand their treatment services in order to treat and save as many children as possible.
Protected 55,238 children from harm
Supported 235,297 children in times of crisis
Provided 578,836 children with a healthy start in life
Gave Gave 40,318 children vital nourishment children vital nourishment
*Unless otherwise noted, facts and statistics have been sourced from Save the Children’s monitoring and evaluation experts and from the Childhood Report. You can access detailed data here. Other sources as follows: UNHCR; Population: CIA World Factbook; The World Bank, 2016; Unesco Institute for Statistics (UIS)