Somalia child hunger crisis deepens after aid cuts, UNICEF says

A drought‑affected country has reported a 32 percent increase in the number of children receiving treatment for severe malnutrition, according to the latest data released by the national health ministry. The rise reflects the worsening food insecurity that has accompanied the prolonged dry season, which has left large swaths of the population without reliable access to adequate nutrition.

The ministry’s figures show that 12,400 children were treated for severe malnutrition in the most recent reporting period, up from 9,400 in the same timeframe last year. Health officials attribute the surge to declining crop yields, disrupted market supply chains, and the displacement of farming communities. In response, the government has expanded mobile clinic services and intensified distribution of therapeutic food packets through partnerships with international aid agencies.

The uptick underscores the urgent need for sustained humanitarian support and long‑term agricultural resilience measures. The ministry has called for increased funding to bolster food security programs and to strengthen early‑warning systems that can better anticipate and mitigate the impact of future drought events.