Somalia

Introduction

For decades, Somalia has endured prolonged conflict and severe climatic shocks. In 2025, northern regions faced an extended drought due to:

• significantly below-average rainfall
• worsening water scarcity
• food insecurity

Continued poor rainfall conditions for the 4th consecutive season are expected to further increase humanitarian needs into 2026. In response, Somali authorities declared a drought crisis in November 2025.

These recurring climatic shocks have been compounded by:

• ongoing and intensifying local inter-clan conflicts
• the broader conflict between the Somali state and non-state armed groups

The situation has been further undermined by significant funding cuts affecting most humanitarian actors, with impacts felt across all sectors. 

Facts & figures

Through its humanitarian efforts, the EU provides vital support to those in need.

EU humanitarian funding:

over €728 million since 2017

What are the needs?

Close to half of Somalia’s population is affected by conflict, floods, drought, disease outbreaks, and displacement, driving significant humanitarian needs. In 2026, an estimated 4.8 million people are in extreme need of urgent, life-saving assistance and protection. While food remains the top priority for most households, half of the population lacks reliable access to water and adequate shelter remains a major challenge. Access to essential health services is limited, particularly in rural and underserved areas, leaving displaced communities particularly vulnerable.

Food insecurity

The latest released Integrated Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis shows that food insecurity and malnutrition rates in Somalia are expected to rapidly deteriorate by the end of March 2026, with 6.5 million people facing high levels of hunger and more than 1.8 million children affected by acute malnutrition.

The country’s food security situation is worryingly worsening because of the current prolonged drought, water shortages, insecurity, conflict and historically low levels of humanitarian assistance due to global funding cuts.

Displacement

With close to 4 million IDPs, Somalia hosts one of the largest displaced populations in the world. Many IDPs:

• live in urban areasoften in overcrowded settlements
• are exposed to health and protection risks (i.e. discrimination, child rights violations and gender-based violence)
• are women and children making up more than 80% of Somalia’s internally displaced population 
   

Since 2022, protracted armed conflict —along with renewed large-scale fighting—has severely impacted civilians and restricted the movement of people and goods in the country. Violations of international humanitarian law remain widespread.

Given the scale and overlap of these crises, increased humanitarian assistance is urgently needed to prevent excessive mortality and further deterioration. The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP) for Somalia requires €850 million to meet the priority needs of the 2.4 million people targeted in a highly constrained funding environment. 

How are we helping?

In 2026, the EU allocated €63 million in humanitarian aid to Somalia. This follows the €67.83 million provided in 2025. 

EU humanitarian funding supports organisations responding to sudden shocks that cause displacement, acute food insecurity, malnutrition, and disease outbreaks. Assistance includes:

• multipurpose cash support
• essential health and nutrition services
• access to clean water
• protection services
• shelter
• education

EU humanitarian partners work in rural and hard-to-reach areas to ensure that the most vulnerable are not left behind. They also help reduce further displacement among rural communities while delivering life-saving assistance in increasingly congested urban and peri-urban areas hosting displaced populations.

Cash transfers

Whenever relevant, EU support is delivered through multipurpose cash transfers. This allows people in need to feed and support their families while meeting other basic needs in a dignified manner.  Cash assistance also helps overcome access constraints and strengthens local markets. 

Health and nutrition sectors

Somalia continues to face high child and maternal mortality rates, severe malnutrition, and frequent disease outbreaks. The health system is critically overstretched: only 1/3 of existing health facilities are functional.

The country is currently experiencing an increase in outbreaks of cholera, acute watery diarrhoea, diphtheria and measles, driven by climate shocks, limited access to clean water and hygiene, and unsanitary conditions in displacement camps. All of these diseases carry a high risk of death.

In response, the EU prioritises the provision of quality health care, epidemic prevention and control, and emergency treatment for malnutrition. Support is channelled through 

Disaster preparedness

The EU also funds disaster preparedness initiatives using a multi-hazard approach, aiming to reduce the impact of recurrent shocks linked to:

• climate events
• conflict
• disease outbreaks

Despite these efforts, Somalia urgently needs more long-term development assistance to strengthen the resilience and self-reliance of vulnerable groups, including pastoralist, agricultural, and marginalised communities. Coordination between EU humanitarian and development programmes continues, notably in the areas of cash-based social safety nets and education, to help build sustainable resilience for affected Somali communities.