MOGADISHU, December 20, 2025 (Somalia Tribune) – More than 55,000 Somalis have crossed into Ethiopia after a severe drought hit the country following the failure of the October–December 2025 Deyr rains, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has said.
In a statement released on Friday, FAO said the poor rains have affected large parts of the eastern Horn of Africa, causing widespread displacement, particularly in Somalia. The agency warned that food security conditions are likely to worsen in the early months of 2026 if the situation does not improve.
FAO estimates that over 185,000 people have been displaced inside Somalia due to drought, while tens of thousands have fled across borders, further straining humanitarian resources in the region.
Speaking to the media, FAO Resilience Team Leader for Eastern Africa Cyril Ferrand said prolonged rainfall shortages across Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya have forced many rural communities to abandon their homes. He warned that some areas are experiencing their driest rainy season since records began in 1981.
The lack of rainfall has already led to crop failures and deteriorating livestock conditions, increasing the risk of hunger and further displacement. FAO cautioned that without urgent humanitarian assistance, the drought could escalate into a major crisis.
Somalia’s federal government has declared a drought emergency, while aid agencies warn that funding levels remain critically low even as humanitarian needs continue to rise.
