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  • Publication | 2026
Somalia: Acute Food Insecurity Situation January 2026 and Projections for February to March 2026 and for April to June 2026
Global Food and Nutrition Security

From February–March 2026,  a staggering 6.5 million people in Somalia are estimated to be facing high levels of acute food insecurity—nearly double the population classified in IPC Acute Food Insecurity (AFI) Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse) in August 2025. This includes more than 2 million people in IPC AFI Phase 4 (Emergency). All affected populations urgently need assistance to protect livelihoods, reduce food deficits, and save lives.  

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, with a 27 percent reduction in January 2026 compared to the previous year.

Populations in agro-pastoral and pastoral livelihood zones and internally displaced people (IDPs) are expected to be hardest hit.

Rainfall from April–June is likely to be near normal in most areas and above-normal in some northern areas. This will likely lead to only a modest improvement in overall food security, with 5.5 million people expected to be in IPC AFI Phase 3 or above.