WFP Assistant Executive Director Matthew Hollingworth delivered the warning on Friday after returning from Somalia, describing an unfolding crisis that is “deepening quickly”. Hollingworth said worsening conditions are being driven by repeated drought, conflict-related displacement, disrupted supply routes, plus sharp price rises linked to global shocks around the Strait of Hormuz.

WFP estimates that about 1.9 million children are acutely malnourished. Food prices have risen by up to 70% in some parts of the country, while fuel prices have increased by 150%, raising the cost of transporting aid plus essential goods. Hollingworth said delays are already disrupting assistance. Hollingworth cited therapeutic food shipments arriving 40 days late because of the impact on global shipping routes.

The impact is visible across Somalia, with severe conditions reported in Puntland, where dried-up water sources, collapsing livelihoods plus consecutive failed rainy seasons are forcing families to flee in search of food plus water. Hollingworth said multiple failed rainy seasons have devastated crops, wiped out livestock plus eroded livelihoods.

WFP also warned that the humanitarian response is collapsing under severe funding shortages. WFP said food assistance is reaching only 1 in 10 people in need, down sharply from last year when more than 2 million people were receiving aid. In Puntland, Hollingworth reported that functioning health centres have fallen from 12 last year to 3 now, with preventive nutrition programmes halted in some facilities.

WFP warned that without urgent new funding, WFP operations in Somalia could halt entirely by July. Hollingworth said famine remains preventable with immediate action, stressing that WFP systems already exist for rapid scale-up, including 1.7 million biometrically registered people ready for emergency cash support.

–UN/ChannalAfrica–