The Commissioner of the Somali Disaster Management Agency (SoDMA), Mr. Mahmoud Moalim Abdulle, accompanied by the Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), Matthew Hollingworth, and the WFP Representative in Somalia, Hamid Noor, held a press conference in Mogadishu to discuss the worsening humanitarian situation in the country.

The officials noted that livelihoods in Somalia have been negatively affected by ongoing global challenges, particularly the tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, which have disrupted trade and contributed to rising prices of essential commodities.

The Commissioner of SoDMA, Mr. Mahmoud Moalim Abdulle, stated that Somalia is currently facing the combined impacts of prolonged drought and heavy rains affecting parts of the country in recent days, raising fears of flooding similar to that experienced last year.

Finally, the officials highlighted that drought conditions still persist in some parts of the country, while reduced humanitarian funding has further worsened the hunger crisis. They noted that nearly 6.5 million people are facing food insecurity, while approximately 2 million children are suffering from severe malnutrition. They also emphasized that the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East have had a negative impact on Somalia’s economy and cost of living.