Somalia child hunger crisis deepens after aid cuts, UNICEF says

The drought-stricken country has recorded a 32 percent jump in the number of children treated for severe malnutrition.Published On 22 Aug 202622 Aug 2026Life-threatening malnutrition among children is spiking in Somalia as more than 200 health and nutrition facilities were forced to shutter following cuts to international aid, the United Nations has warned.The East African country has seen a 32 percent jump in the number of children admitted to facilities with severe acute malnutrition and complications in the first six months of 2026, UNICEF said on Friday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Thousands flee drought in Somalia amid sharp aid declinelist 2 of 3Suspected Somali pirates seize tanker near Yemen amid wave of hijackingslist 3 of 3Somali army clashes with rebel forces for control of key city Baidoaend of listNearly 1.9 million children are projected to be malnourished this year.“In Somalia today, aid cuts are closing doors to healthcare, shutting down nutrition services, and pushing water, education and protection further out of reach,” UNICEF spokesman James Elder told reporters in Geneva, speaking via video from Nairobi.As many as 618 health facilities could cl...