As Somalia’s hunger crisis deepens, UN warns aid is drying up

An estimated 4.6 million Somalis currently face food insecurity, with aid funds dwindling and healthcare deteriorating. UN spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric, has voiced his concerns, Africanews via AP reported on July 9th.

Dujarric claims that due to a 50% decrease in food assistance, Somali healthcare workers find themselves grappling with a crisis affecting 150 clinics and consequently “hundreds of thousands of individuals.” He noted that this disaster is set to leave 1.8 million children under the age of 5 acutely malnourished this year.

The US Agency for International Development accounted for 65% of Somalia’s foreign aid. Hundreds of millions of that financial support have been lost since Trump’s administration came into office. With most of its foreign aid diminished, Somalia sits in a bad situation, threatening to get worse.

Trump’s cuts to USAID have been devastating for multiple countries in Africa. As previously reported by Maghrebi, the cuts are set to cause 14 million deaths by 2030. The effects are already starting to manifest themselves across the continent, with countries like Ghana facing a $156 million hole in their state budget and 1.8 million Sudanese losing access to vital food assistance.

Regarding Somalia, a US State Department spokesperson said: “Several lifesaving USAID humanitarian assistance programs are operational in Somalia, including those that provide food and nutrition support to children.” However, according to aid workers, there was no clarification on which particular programs were lifesaving or if funding would continue post-July 1st, when aid transitions to the State Department.

The country lies in an ever-precarious position, with Dujarric noting that the shortfall could worsen the humanitarian crisis. He stated: “The $1.4 billion Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan for Somalia is only 15% funded, with just $222 million available.”

Africanews via AP, Maghrebi, Al-Monitor