Children's Lives Hanging in the Balance: Somalia's Humanitarian Crisis Deepens Amidst Dire Funding Shortfalls
Mogadishu, 4 Nov 2025: The humanitarian crisis in Somalia has reached catastrophic levels, with children's lives at risk. Despite urgent needs, the response is severely underfunded, with only 21% of required funding received, three months till year's end - the lowest in decades, warns World Vision. The nutrition cluster, crucial for health and nutrition services, has received just 9% of the needed funds, leaving millions without urgent support.
In health and nutrition facilities supported by World Vision, a significant surge has been observed, with approximately 10,000 children aged 6-59 months admitted and treated for severe malnutrition since February 2025, with more than 1300 recorded in September alone. More than 1.85 million children are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC.) This is at a time when the needs are fast outpacing the resources available.
Zerihun Marere, World Vision Somalia Health and Nutrition Technical Advisor:
“Currently we are supporting about 200 health and nutrition facilities in 24 districts across 9 regions in the country. World Vision support for some of these health facilities ends in February 2026. So far, we have already suspended support to 20 health facilities, including mobile health teams that were serving remote and hard to reach areas leaving these communities with no access to essential health services.
If we don't secure additional funding to sustain our current operations and expand our reach to hard-to-access areas, the situation will inevitably deteriorate. With measles, cholera, diphtheria, and other communicable diseases already on the rise, the fragile health system - already weakened by funding cuts - will be unable to cope, putting countless lives at risk.”
Fatuma, Nutrition Nurse at World Vision, supported Wadajir Health Centre:
“We are overwhelmed and struggling to cope with a surge in patients from remote villages, as 17 nearby health centers have closed, leaving a staggering 11,182 consultations per month, a threefold increase from January- women are now forced to walk more than 30km to access the nearest health services. We are also facing critical shortages of medical supplies and the health more than 500 health workers have lost jobs due to funding gaps, disrupting essential services, including antenatal care, immunizations, and postnatal follow-ups, putting vulnerable communities at risk of preventable diseases like measles
Remaining outreach and mobile teams are struggling with shortages of supplies. This has placed a heavy burden on the remaining health workers, including myself.
Families are struggling to survive after the suspension of aid due to funding cuts. Some have reduced the number of meals they eat each day, while others skip meals entirely so that their children can eat. Families are increasingly relying on borrowing food from neighbors, and some are selling their household items or livestock to afford basic needs”.
Kevin Mackey, World Vision Somalia National Director:
“Across Somalia, the devastating impact of funding shortfalls is starkly evident: life-saving health facilities are closing, and malnourished children are flooding in. This is a matter of life and death for millions of children.
We urgently need to scale up our interventions- and more flexible funding is needed to support the vulnerable communities. World Vision is on the ground, ready to support. We implore the global community to take immediate action and not turn a blind eye to Somalia's plight”.
World Vision is working with diverse partners, providing food and cash support to families affected by drought, including in remote hard to hard-to-reach areas. With support from international partners, World Vision Somalia is also providing health and nutrition support to families and children in the drought-affected areas.
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Spokespeople in Somalia are available
Contact: Walter Mawere: Communications and Marketing Manager: walter_mawere@wvi.org