Approximately 3.5 million people in Somalia face acute food insecurity Crisis (IPC Phase 3) or worse outcomes in late 2021

1.2 million children likely to be acutely malnourished

September 9, 2021, Mogadishu/Washington –  Nearly 3.5 million people across Somalia are expected to face food consumption gaps or depletion of livelihood assets indicative of Crisis (IPC Phase 3)^[1] or worse outcomes through the end of the year, in the absence of humanitarian assistance. The key drivers of acute food insecurity in Somalia include the combined effects of poor and erratic rainfall distribution, flooding and conflict.  Moreover, approximately 1.2 million children under the age of five are likely to be acutely malnourished, including nearly 213 400 who are likely to be severely malnourished. It is likely that sustained, large-scale humanitarian food assistance and government support since January 2021 have mitigated the magnitude and severity of food insecurity. Despite minimal damage in early to mid-2021, Desert Locust will continue to pose a serious risk to both pasture availability and crop production across Somalia.  Available forecasts indicate an increased likelihood of below-average rainfall during the 2021...