Somalia Hunger Crisis Worsens: Over 500,000 People Displaced by Drought in 2026; 6.5M Face Food Insecurity

Al Jazeera's April 27, 2026 photo gallery documents the worsening humanitarian catastrophe across Somalia, with over 500,000 people displaced since the start of 2026 — 90% of them by drought — as the Gu rainy season begins with insufficient rainfall to offset accumulated deficits. An estimated 6.5 million Somalis are forced to skip meals daily due to severe food insecurity; approximately 2 million are in IPC Phase 4 Emergency conditions (critical food insecurity). Of particular alarm, 1.85 million children under the age of five face acute malnutrition, with an estimated 500,000 at severe (SAM) risk. Projections indicate a further 125,000 Somalis could be displaced in the second quarter of 2026 if funding and response do not scale up. The OCHA Somalia Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) of $852 million remains 86.6% unfunded as of April 2026 — meaning only $114 million of the requested $852 million has been committed. WFP has cut nutrition support from 400,000 to 90,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women, and over 200 health and nutrition facilities have closed since early 2025 due to funding gaps. The humanitarian crisis intersects directly with the security situation: Al-Shabaab's April 19 seizure of Adan Yabal in Hiiraan Region — a key agricultural and trade hub — threatens to worsen food access for communities in that corridor, while the SNA's March 30 seizure of Baidoa (Southwest State) added 50,000+ newly displaced persons. The 2025 Deyr cereal harvest was 83% below the 30-year average, leaving no buffer for the coming lean season.