BRUSSELS — The European Union has announced €63 million in new humanitarian funding for Somalia as 6.5 million people across the country face severe hunger driven by drought, conflict, displacement and rising food prices.
The funding, unveiled on February 26, 2026, will support vulnerable communities affected by worsening food insecurity and shrinking global aid. According to the European Commission, nearly one in three Somalis is experiencing crisis-level or worse food insecurity, while an estimated 1.85 million children under the age of five are at risk of acute malnutrition this year.
In a statement, the Commission said the allocation will prioritize life-saving health and nutrition services, including treatment for severe acute malnutrition. The package will also fund emergency cash assistance, water and sanitation services, protection programs and emergency education initiatives.
The aid will be delivered through humanitarian partners operating on the ground to ensure timely and effective distribution to the hardest-hit communities.
The announcement comes amid mounting concern over the sustainability of relief operations. The World Food Programme recently warned that its food and nutrition programs in Somalia could halt as early as April without additional funding, citing a need for approximately $95 million to maintain operations between March and August 2026. Funding shortfalls have already reduced the number of beneficiaries from more than 2 million people in early 2025 to around 600,000, according to the agency.
Between July and December, drought and conflict displaced an estimated 278,000 people, disrupting agricultural production, market access and humanitarian delivery. Water shortages remain severe in southern and central regions, with limited prospects for rapid improvement even if seasonal rains return to average levels.
The EU said it is participating in a Global Leadership Roundtable following Somalia’s activation of its Food Security Crisis Preparedness Plan, aimed at coordinating the emergency response to the growing crisis.
With this latest allocation, total EU humanitarian assistance to Somalia since 2017 now exceeds €750 million. Despite broader global funding constraints, the bloc said it remains committed to supporting emergency relief efforts in Somalia, where humanitarian needs continue to outpace available resources.
