Although the drought ended and famine was averted by mid-2023, its impact lingers, causing sustained food insecurity and malnutrition. The late 2023 El Niño event exacerbated the situation, leading to floods that displaced a million people, destroyed livelihoods and properties and decimated services in affected areas, with lasting food security and nutrition implications. By the end of 2023, 4.3 million Somali people faced severe acute food insecurity and 1.5 million children under five faced malnutrition[2].
An intricate mix of climate shocks, conflict, displacement and economic instability creates a complex crisis affecting millions in Somalia, necessitating comprehensive and timely intervention. Somalia hosts 3.8 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), predominantly women and children. Recent IDPs, especially those fleeing conflict regions, face acute challenges in urban centres, arriving without access to nutritious food, essential services and adequate humanitarian aid. The prolonged drought had devastating impacts on education as children accounted for the majority of those affected[3], with 4.8 million children missing out on school and lacking access to protective quality education[4].