Children and a woman in front of water gallons in dry area
Saddam Mohammed/CARE International

8.3 million people to go hungry in Somalia by June 2023 if no urgent assistance is received

The recently released food classification report has projected parts of Somalia to face famine by June 2023 as the number of people facing catastrophic levels of hunger (IPC Phase 5) is expected to double to 727,000. Approximately 8.3 million people across Somalia are expected to face Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse acute food insecurity outcomes by June 2023 - an increase from the current 5.6 million.

CARE SOMALIA DEPUTY COUNTRY DIRECTOR FOR PROGRAMS UMMY DUBOW SAYS:

“The report highlights the urgent need to scale up flexible funding and responses towards the Somalia Humanitarian Plan which is currently 55% funded. CARE is greatly concerned by the increase in the number of people who are going hungry, we are witnessing a spike in the numbers of emaciated women and children visiting the health centers we support. It is unacceptable that more than half the population of Somalia will face acute food insecurity by June 2023 if no urgent funding is availed. As the needs outpace the humanitarian support available, the situation will become direr. The time to scale up our response is now as lives are being lost, children are missing school and livelihoods are being wiped out. The situation in Somalia is grim and only a concerted effort can help avert a catastrophe - one that the country will struggle to recover from. Since January, CARE has supported more than 700,000 people with cash assistance and emergency water trucking. We are also supporting 57 camps for internally displaced people across the country”

Notes to editors

  • Between June to date, CARE-supported health facilities have supported more than 100,000 women and children
  • 727,100 people are projected to face catastrophic levels of hunger (IPC 5) by June 2023.

For media inquiries, please contact CARE Somalia Advocacy and Communications Coordinator, Walter Mawere, [email protected].