TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The report from the World Food Programme (WFP) on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, revealed that in the coming months, more than one million people in Somalia are at risk of facing famine at various levels. This is due to the predicted drought in the next harvest season.
Jean-Martin Bauer, Director of the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Service at WFP, said that the number of Somalis at risk of famine is likely to increase due to budget cuts.
In 2022, the Horn of Africa country faced deadly drought conditions, the worst in more than four decades with no rain. This disaster claimed the lives of about 43,000 people.
"The latest report estimates that about 3.4 million people are currently facing acute food insecurity in Somalia. This number is expected to rise to about 4.4 million in the coming months," said Bauer, referring to the third and subsequent stages in the integrated food security classification system.
Reuters reported that the third phase is defined as a famine crisis and the fourth phase is an emergency situation. The fifth phase is considered a disaster or famine.
Bauer stated that below-average rainfall is expected from April to June 2025. This condition could lead to a drought disaster after two consecutive failed harvest seasons.
Based on current projections, children are likely to be the hardest hit by the famine disaster. Approximately 1.7 million children under the age of five in Somalia are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition until December 2025. The WFP report mentions that about 466,000 children are at risk of acute malnutrition.
Unfortunately, WFP has cut its assistance program. Currently, WFP can only help about 820,000 people in Somalia. This number contrasts sharply with 2022 when it could assist up to 2.2 million people.
Bauer explained that the reduction in WFP assistance is due to the United States under the administration of President Donald Trump making significant budget cuts that have never occurred before.
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