MOGADISHU, December 23, 2025 (Somalia Tribune) – Somalia’s drought crisis is worsening, with over 4.6 million people, nearly a quarter of the population, affected by prolonged dry conditions, according to authorities and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
At least 120,000 people have been displaced between September and December as water prices rise, food becomes scarce, and livestock die. The situation is expected to deteriorate further during the January–March dry season, with more water shortages, livestock losses, and rising food insecurity. The next rainy season is not expected until April 2026.
The drought comes after failed rains in both April–June and October–December, leaving around 170 boreholes and shallow wells non-functional nationwide. In addition, over 75,000 students have dropped out of school as families struggle to cope with the crisis.
Humanitarian agencies are responding with cash assistance, animal fodder, and water source rehabilitation, supported by a $10 million allocation from the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, targeting over 603,000 people.
However, OCHA warns that funding remains critically low, with Somalia’s $1.4 billion humanitarian response plan receiving only about $370 million, leaving significant gaps in lifesaving aid. Authorities and aid partners stress that the coming months are critical to prevent further displacement and loss of life.
