Nearly 1.9 Million Children Face Acute Malnutrition in Somalia

Nearly 1.9 million children in Somalia are expected to experience acute malnutrition this year, as drought, conflict, displacement and severe funding shortages deepen the country’s humanitarian crisis.

UNICEF says almost half a million children could suffer severe acute malnutrition, the most dangerous form of the condition. The pressure is already being seen in health facilities, with admissions of children suffering severe acute malnutrition and medical complications rising by 32% during the first six months of 2026 compared with the same period last year.

The increase comes as access to early treatment is being reduced. UNICEF reports that 205 health and nutrition facilities have closed following humanitarian funding cuts, contributing to a 30% reduction in service coverage. The organisation warns that when community-based services disappear, children are more likely to reach hospitals only after their condition has become significantly more serious.

The malnutrition emergency forms part of a wider food crisis in Somalia. UN agencies have warned that around six million people are facing critical levels of food insecurity, driven by prolonged drought, rising food and water costs, conflict and continued displacement.

Despite the worsening situation, treatment can be highly effective when children are reached in time. UNICEF supported more than 2.25 million admissions for severe acute malnutrition treatment between 2021 and 2025, with a reported cure rate of 97.6% in 2025.

UNICEF is now calling for urgent international funding to protect health and nutrition services and prevent more children from becoming critically ill. With humanitarian resources shrinking as demand increases, aid organisations warn that maintaining early intervention services will be crucial to preventing avoidable deaths.

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