Conflict and drought drive destabilization

  • Al-Shabaab attacks surge, with 120+ incidents in 2024, sparking fears over security after the African Union’s withdrawal.
  • Somalia’s recovery from drought is fragile, with La Niña likely worsening droughts and floods.
  • By 2025, 1.6M children under five may face acute malnutrition, worsened by conflict and climate issues.
  • Over 20% live in extreme poverty, and nearly 1M lack humanitarian aid in Al-Shabaab-controlled areas.
Read our 2025 Emergency Watchlist
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Country facts

  • Total population: 17.6 million
  • Internally displaced people: 3.8 million
  • People facing crisis, or worse, levels of food insecurity: 4.3 million

IRC response

  • Started work in Somalia: 1981
  • People assisted per year: 500,000

Rescue stories

Back home, we were friends. We both worked as farmers. We lived close to each other. Here, we make these baskets to sell in the market so we could get some cash for food.
Nunay and Bigisow sat in front of their tents, making baskets.
Families across Somalia have had their lives uprooted by a catastrophic hunger crisis that could soon be declared a famine.
Meet Nunay and Bisigow