In southern Somalia, a deepening crisis of hunger, drought, and scarce humanitarian aid is driving tens of thousands of families to desperate measures. Abdullahi Abdi Abdirahman, his wife, and their seven children recently trekked 140 miles across parched terrain to the town of Dollow, near the Ethiopian border, hoping to find relief from starvation and disease. Upon arrival, they found relief organizations had largely withdrawn, and aid resources were severely diminished.

The withdrawal of U.S. government funding, particularly following policy changes implemented under former President Donald Trump, has significantly reduced humanitarian assistance to Somalia. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), historically the largest single donor, cut its support from $467 million in 2024 to just $70 million last year, with only $3 million delivered during the first four months of 2025—representing merely 2 percent of aid received by Somalia. Other governments in Europe, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and Canada, as well as Qatar, continue contributing substantial support, but overall global humanitarian funding has declined, falling from $43 billion four years ago during the initial Russia-Ukraine conflict to $28 billion last year.

The reduced funding arrives amid compounding crises. Somalia faces one of its worst droughts in recent memory, a flood of internally displaced people, and persistent insecurity fueled by the militant group Al Shabab. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, roughly 6.5 million Somalis—about one-third of the population—are experiencing emergency-level hunger, including over 1.8 million children under five suffering acute malnutrition. The World Food Program (WFP), Somalia’s largest aid provider, currently has resources to sustain just 300,000 people monthly through July, a drastic drop from nearly two million in early 2025.

Adding to the strain, global conflicts have disrupted supply chains crucial for Somalia’s survival. The recent U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital maritime corridor for oil and fertilizer exports. This has doubled the price of gasoline, diesel, and key food staples such as rice and wheat flour within Somalia. Import reliance of about 70 percent makes these price increases particularly acute. Fishermen in Mogadishu report smaller catches closer to shore due to increased fuel costs, while farmers near Dollow face soaring prices for diesel and fertilizers, forcing them to raise prices just to break even.

Local health and support services in areas like Dollow reflect the humanitarian shortfall. Clinics once financed by UNICEF and other organizations have shut down or operate with barebones staff and supplies. Nutrition centers in Mogadishu report doubled admissions of severely malnourished children since January, with many cases escalating due to the closure of closer-to-home clinics. Some expectant mothers in camps must travel farther for prenatal care, often unable to afford transport costs rising alongside fuel prices.

“There are different categories of starvation,” said Hameed Nuru, Somalia director for the WFP. “We are only able to reach those who are really on the verge of, if you don’t give them something now, they will not be there tomorrow.” Relief agencies are forced to prioritize a limited pool of aid recipients, often leaving less vulnerable groups without support.

Somali officials and aid workers cite external factors—international indifference to crises in fragile states, foreign policy shifts, and global armed conflicts—as contributors to the worsening emergency. Adan Bare Ali, deputy mayor of Dollow, pointed to climate change-driven drought and foreign conflicts far from Somalia’s borders as underlying challenges. "The situation has become unbearable," he said, criticizing the lack of international commitment.

Meanwhile, families like the Abdirahmans struggle daily with hunger, limited income, and uncertain futures. In Dollow’s sprawling camp, the absence of aid has left many reliant on sporadic work, charity, or reduced rations. As the crisis deepens without significant international response, the prospects for recovery remain grim.