The U.N. World Food Program (WFP) announced Friday it is drastically cutting food assistance to hundreds of thousands of people in Somalia, attributing the reduction to “critical funding shortfalls.” The move comes despite acute hunger and the devastating effects of climate change plaguing the East African nation.
The Scale of the Cuts
The WFP stated that the number of people receiving emergency food assistance in Somalia will decrease sharply:
- From 1.1 million people assisted in August.
- To 350,000 people by November.
Ross Smith, the agency’s director of emergency preparedness and response, warned of the immediate danger: “We are seeing a dangerous rise in emergency levels of hunger, and our ability to respond is shrinking by the day. Without urgent funding, families already pushed to the edge will be left with nothing at a time when they need it most.”
Acute Hunger Crisis
The funding cut arrives during a period of extreme vulnerability in Somalia, which is battling decades of conflict, insecurity (including the presence of the militant group al-Shabab), and the destructive impacts of climate change, such as severe drought and flooding.
According to the latest U.N. report, 4.6 million people in the country are currently facing crisis levels of hunger. The situation is particularly dire for children:
- 1.8 million children are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition this year.
- 421,000 children are facing severe malnutrition.
- The WFP has only been able to assist about 180,000 of the severely malnourished children.
Urgent Funding Appeal
The humanitarian response has been further strained by U.S. foreign aid cuts, worsening the struggle for agencies trying to meet the needs of the growing vulnerable population.
To maintain a minimum level of operations, the WFP says it urgently needs $98 million. This funding is required to sustain life-saving operations for 800,000 people through the critical lean season, which lasts until March 2026.
Source: AP News
