MOGADISHU — As the holy month of Ramadan begins, the Federal Government of Somalia is urgently mobilizing both domestic and international resources to combat a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian crisis, with approximately 6.5 million Somalis currently facing severe food insecurity.
During a special Iftar dinner hosted for officials and staff of the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) on Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre issued a pressing national appeal. While praising civil servants as the operational foundation of the “DanQaran” administration, he emphasized that Ramadan must serve as a moment of profound national solidarity.
Prime Minister Barre called for greater compassion, urging all governmental bodies, private citizens, and businesses to organize immediate relief initiatives and provide direct, tangible aid to communities devastated by the persistent drought conditions.
Coordinating the National Response
Echoing the Prime Minister’s call for unified action, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, H.E. Abdisalam Abdi Ali, conducted a strategic tour of the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SODMA) headquarters in Mogadishu on Tuesday.
Welcomed by SODMA Commissioner H.E. Mahmoud Moallim Abdulle, the Foreign Minister examined the agency’s early warning systems. He emphasized the critical importance of establishing a unified national coordination framework to expedite relief operations and enhance collaboration with international partners. The Minister also issued a strong appeal to the robust Somali diaspora to actively contribute to the ongoing rescue initiatives.
The Scale of the Emergency
The urgency of these high-level government appeals is underscored by a grave new warning from the United Nations. According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report, one-third of the nation’s population will face crisis levels of hunger by the end of March—an alarming increase of 1.7 million people since January.
The report projects that more than 1.8 million children under five will suffer from acute malnutrition in 2026, with nearly half a million facing severe, life-threatening malnutrition.
George Conway, Deputy Special Representative for Somalia with the UN Assistance Mission, stated that the emergency has alarmingly intensified. “Immediate life-saving assistance is crucial to preserve lives and prevent the collapse of pastoral and farming livelihoods, as the upcoming months are critical with no rainfall anticipated at least until the next Gu season in April-June,” Conway noted.
Funding Shortfalls Threaten Relief
The drought has devastated agricultural sectors, causing widespread crop failures, mass livestock fatalities, and soaring water costs. Compounding the environmental disaster, both the UN and the Federal Government warned that historically low levels of humanitarian funding have compelled partners to reduce or entirely suspend vital life-saving programs.
“The severity of this drought is undeniable and profoundly concerning,” stated SODMA Commissioner Mohamud Moallim Abdulle, reinforcing the government’s unified stance. “We urgently call on international partners, the Somali diaspora, businesses, and civil society to amplify immediate support.”
