Somalia faces rising famine risk and acute malnutrition

New data from the Integrated Food Security Classification (IPC) indicates a rising food crisis in Somalia, with the number of people facing severe food insecurity expected to increase in the coming months. Between July and September, approximately 5.1 million people were in IPC Phase 3 or higher, representing a 50 percent increase compared to the previous year. Nearly two million children are currently acutely malnourished.

Projections for the October to December period suggest the number of people in IPC Phase 3 or higher will rise to 5.4 million. Specifically, around 26,000 internally displaced persons in Baidoa, Central Somalia, face the risk of reaching IPC Phase 5, which denotes a famine catastrophe. Currently, about two million Somalis are in IPC Phase 4, signifying an emergency state.

The crisis is being driven by a combination of drought, irregular rainfall, insecurity, high food prices, and the anticipated effects of El Niño. These challenges are compounded by a decrease in available humanitarian aid funding. Alex Fenwick, the Welthungerhilfe country director for Somalia, warned that food security is ‘on a knife-edge’ and that impending floods could threaten lives and livelihoods.