The South West State administration has issued a stark warning that Somalia could plunge into a humanitarian crisis reminiscent of the 1991 collapse if emergency aid to vulnerable communities is halted.
Speaking on behalf of the regional government, Deputy Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Abdullahi Isaaq Ganey, stated, “If aid is cut during this critical period, the country risks descending into a situation similar to what we experienced in 1991.”
This warning comes at a time when prolonged droughts, soaring inflation, and escalating internal conflicts continue to ravage South West State and the rest of Somalia.
The urgency of the situation has been further highlighted by a recent decision from the United States to suspend nearly $170 million in humanitarian aid earmarked for Somalia, according to the relief organization Stand Up for Aid. The funding cut coincides with alarming projections that nearly 4.4 million people — roughly 23% of the Somali population — could face famine in 2025.
Both the Federal Government of Somalia and the United Nations have echoed the South West administration’s concerns, warning that the aid suspension will worsen the impact of ongoing droughts, conflicts, and rising living costs on already vulnerable populations.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has also sounded the alarm, projecting that malnutrition rates among children under the age of five will soar, with up to 1.7 million children expected to suffer from acute malnutrition by the end of this year.
