Funding for Somalia's child malnutrition program plummets as hunger worsens

Médecins Sans Frontières says donor contributions for acute malnutrition response in Somalia have declined by more than 80% this year, even as child hunger intensifies. The United States cut its aid from $70 million last year to none this year, and additional Western donors have reduced their pledges. MSF admitted 22,000 nutrition cases, an increase of over 80% over the prior year, while a July survey found one in four children in southwest displacement camps severely malnourished.

Conflict, repeated failed rains and drought have devastated crops, livestock and water supplies, pushing 6.5 million people into acute hunger. The organization warns that only about $300 million is currently available for Somalia, far below the $2.2 billion provided in 2022, and urges immediate action to avert a famine.