Aid cuts threaten devastating toll in Somalia, ICRC warns

A sharp decline in humanitarian funding could have devastating consequences for vulnerable communities in Somalia as looming floods compound the effects of drought and conflict.

The head of the International Committee of the Red Cross in the country has warned that the beginning of the El Nino in some parts of the country risks deaths and property damage if urgent measures are not taken.

Antoine Grand made an appeal to international donors to sustain assistance to the Horn of Africa nation, saying the closure of nutrition centers and health facilities was leaving families with fewer places to turn as successive crises exhausted their ability to recover.

"We know there are other priorities in the world today, but don't forget about Somalia," Grand said.

He estimated that humanitarian funding for Somalia had fallen from about $2.3 billion in 2022 to roughly $300-$350 million, leaving a response already focused on the most urgent needs severely underfunded.

Aid organizations had prioritized essential, lifesaving activities, yet the United Nations humanitarian appeal was only about 30 percent funded, he said.

"When you reduce that aid drastically, then it is brutal and people suffer," Grand said.

The UN and its partners launched an $852 million appeal in January to assist 2.4 million people in Somalia this year.

Grand said funding shortages across the humanitarian sector had forced nutrition centers to close, reduced support for hospitals and halted water and resilience projects.

"At clinics supported by the ICRC and the Somali Red Crescent Society, patient numbers had nearly doubled as surrounding facilities closed," he said.

The impact was especially severe for malnourished children, as access to treatment continue to dwindle.

Somalia's vulnerability stems from the combination of prolonged conflict, repeated climate shocks and weak public services, he said.

Around 3.3 million people are displaced, with many living in settlements where access to clean water, sanitation and healthcare is limited.

Families that lose livestock or crops during drought have little opportunity to rebuild before another emergency strikes.

"More and more Somali families are really on the brink of just collapsing," Grand said.

He said the impending floods could deepen losses, particularly along the Shabelle and Juba rivers. In a warning issued last week, the ICRC said anticipated El Nino conditions could intensify the October-December rains, threatening farmland and displacement settlements.

Grand described the dilemma facing farmers near Jowhar, where planting risks losing scarce seeds to floodwaters, while leaving fields idle would deepen food insecurity and hunger.

He said early warnings are helping families move before flooding, giving them time to take livestock, household belongings and important documents.

ICRC and Somali Red Crescent have stocked supported health facilities with additional medicines, positioned emergency supplies near vulnerable communities and prepared boats for rescue operations and aid deliveries.

"Teams have also protected 38 strategic water points to reduce the risk of floodwater contamination and waterborne disease," Grand added.

Beyond emergency assistance, he called for sustained investment in reliable water systems, roads, drainage and flood protection to help communities withstand future shocks.

"Anticipatory action, preparedness, resilience is extremely important. We need to invest in that. The more we invest in preparing for the next crisis, the less impact will this next crisis have," Grand said.