SOS Children’s villages launches Sh882m emergency appeal for Somalia crisis
The appeal, which will run until April 2026, aims to address growing needs in nutrition, health, clean water, education, child protection, and food security, especially among women and children who are most affected.
SOS Children’s Villages in Somalia has launched an emergency appeal worth €6 million (Sh882 million) to provide urgent assistance to more than 184,000 people in eight districts, as the country grapples with a worsening humanitarian crisis driven by recent international aid cuts.
The appeal, which will run until April 2026, aims to address growing needs in nutrition, health, clean water, education, child protection, and food security, especially among women and children who are most affected.
Over 4.6 million people in Somalia are currently facing acute food insecurity, with nearly 800,000 of them at risk of emergency hunger.
The situation has been worsened by the termination of funding from USAID’s Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance to key UN nutrition and health programmes.
This has left critical gaps in life-saving services across the country.
"Cases of malnutrition are increasing daily among the patients we serve and the beneficiaries we care for," said Dr Abdinur Abdullah Salad, a medical director with SOS Children’s Villages Somalia.
The organisation has allocated nearly €2 million (Sh295 million) from the emergency fund specifically to tackle the growing nutrition crisis.
Teams at eight health facilities are currently treating malnourished children while also educating caregivers on proper feeding and hygiene practices.
"What we seriously need right now is to bridge the gap that was left by the funding cuts," said Dr Mohamed Dakane, the organisation’s Humanitarian Director.
"Funding gaps actually have severely affected our programme, and we hope to maintain all our facilities so that people can access basic services in the country."
Somalia’s health system is under heavy strain, with limited maternal and newborn care, low vaccination coverage, and few mental health services. In areas such as Barawa, Baidoa, and Balcad, SOS Children’s Villages continues to operate some of the only available health centres.
The humanitarian appeal also supports clean water, sanitation, and hygiene efforts, especially for displaced families now living in overcrowded settlements without access to safe water.
To protect children from violence, family separation, and trauma, the organisation offers psychosocial support and child protection services through child-friendly spaces and outreach programmes.
Education services are also being sustained for displaced children affected by the crisis.
