UN: 6 Mln Somalis in Need of Humanitarian Aid

The United Nations has issued a dire warning that nearly six million people in Somalis require humanitarian assistance this year.

This alarming announcement came as the UN launched an appeal to raise $1.43 billion to address the worsening crisis.

According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Somalia continues to grapple with a complex and protracted humanitarian emergency.

The crisis is fueled by a combination of ongoing conflict and increasingly severe climate shocks, including widespread drought resulting from below-average rainfall over the past three months.

The funding appeal, launched in collaboration with the Somali government, seeks to provide critical support to approximately 4.6 million of the country's most vulnerable individuals.

In November 2024, Somalia and the United States reached a pivotal agreement to cancel over $1 billion in debt owed by the East African nation.

The agreement, signed by Somali Finance Minister Beileh Elmi and US Ambassador Richard Riley, eliminates Somalia's $1.14 billion debt to Washington as part of a broader international initiative supported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

Despite this financial relief, Somalia remains mired in challenges. Decades of civil war, an ongoing insurgency by the al-Qaeda-linked Al-Shabaab militant group, and recurring climate-related disasters have devastated the nation’s development.

The Paris Club of international creditors also played a significant role in 2024, canceling more than $2 billion in Somali debt. However, with 70% of Somalia’s population living on less than $1.90 a day, according to the World Bank, the road to recovery remains steep.