• EU allocates €63 million humanitarian aid to Somalia

• WFP warns programs could halt without $95 million

• 6.5 million Somalis face food insecurity

The European Union on Thursday announced 63 million euros in humanitarian aid for Somalia, as global funding declines and key relief programs risk disruption.

The allocation brings total EU assistance to Somalia since 2017 to more than 750 million euros.

The package aims to prevent an immediate funding shortfall as humanitarian needs outpace available resources. Funds will focus on health and nutrition services, treatment of acute malnutrition, water and sanitation access, and emergency cash transfers.

Aid will be delivered through humanitarian partners already operating in the country to speed up distribution. The EU did not provide a timeline for disbursement, leaving uncertainty over how quickly the funds will reach affected communities.

Agencies warn of looming program cuts

The announcement comes a week after the World Food Programme warned that its food and nutrition operations in Somalia could halt as early as April without fresh funding. The agency says it needs about $95 million to sustain activities between March and August 2026.

Funding shortfalls have already forced the WFP to scale back assistance. The number of beneficiaries has dropped from more than 2 million people in early 2025 to around 600,000, according to the agency. Programs targeting pregnant women and young children have also been sharply reduced.

The pressure reflects a tightening global aid environment. Multiple crises, including in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, have stretched donor budgets and shifted funding priorities, leaving less support for countries facing prolonged instability.

In Somalia, funding constraints add to structural challenges including a long-running insurgency by al-Shabaab, recurring droughts, crop losses, displacement and fragile local markets.

About 6.5 million people, roughly one-third of the population, face food insecurity. Another 1.85 million children under five are at risk of acute malnutrition, according to February 2026 data from the United Nations and the Somali government. Relief efforts remain heavily dependent on external financing, making them vulnerable to further cuts.

The EU’s contribution provides short-term relief but covers only part of estimated needs. Further donor commitments will determine whether programs can continue operating in the coming months. Any additional suspension of aid risks worsening malnutrition and deepening instability in already vulnerable communities.

Olivier de Souza