Somalia facing the worst funding restraints for humanitarian response

Despite facing escalating food insecurity due to unreliable rainfall patterns and locust infestations, heightened conflict and increased displacement, Somalia is facing the worst funding constraints seen in more than half a decade, the International Rescue Committee has warned.

In a statement on Monday, the organization said 2.9 million displaced persons may soon lack food, education, water, health, sanitation, protection and shelter services if humanitarian organizations fail to get adequate funding.

Abdirizak Ahmed, the organization’sacting country director, said almost half of the Somali population of 12.3 million risks losing access to life-saving and life-sustaining services in the last half of 2021 due to lack of funding.

“Nearly half of the 5.9 million people in need of humanitarian assistance are displaced from their homes and since January alone, more than half a million people have fled their homes, with 66 percent fleeing insecurity and elections-related violence,” Ahmed said.

Ahmed said severe underfunding has led to a 25 percent decrease in the people benefitting from food assistance plans and that donor funding for acute malnutrition is inadequate and declining.

“Without additional funding in the last half of 2021, 1million people with acute food needs will miss out on food assistance,” he said.

The International Rescue Committee is calling on the international community to support the Somali population and commit to fulfilling the unmet requirements of the Somalia Humanitarian Response Plan, which is only 30 percent funded.