Humanitarian Action for Children 2023 - Somalia

Appeal highlights

UNICEF’s Level 3 Scale-Up Activation for the Horn of Africa, in conjunction with the Inter-Agency Standing Committee System-Wide Scale-Up, aims to respond in Somalia to an estimated 7.7 million people (including 5.1 million children, 4.4 million girls and women) who will need humanitarian assistance in 2023. These needs stem from the impact of the ongoing drought, conflict, displacement and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and other infectious diseases. Children in Somalia are disproportionately affected by the harsh drought: 1.8 million children under age 5 are expected to experience wasting by July 2023.
Significant water shortages affect an estimated 6.4 million people. This limited access to safe water has triggered a spike in cholera cases, with 10,440 cholera cases, including 59 deaths (a case fatality rate of 0.6 percent) reported.
UNICEF partners with the Government, civil society organizations and the private sector to implement its humanitarian, development and resilience-building programmes, which focus on the most vulnerable groups, including survivors of gender-based violence and children with disabilities.
UNICEF is appealing for US$272.3 million to provide humanitarian services to 3 million people in Somalia, including 2 million children. With this funding, UNICEF will expand delivery of essential multisectoral essential services, with a focus on hard-to-reach areas. UNICEF will also strengthen its leadership role in cluster coordination.

Key planned results for 2023

356,923 children vaccinated against measles

464,124 children with severe wasting admitted for treatment

257,000 children/caregivers accessing community-based mental health and psychosocial support

300,000 children accessing formal or non-formal education, including early learning

HUMANITARIAN SITUATION AND NEEDS

Somalia is currently experiencing a historic dry spell with a predicted fifth consecutive failed rainy season, a situation not witnessed in more than four decades. More than 90 per cent of the country is experiencing severe to extreme drought conditions. The severe drought has combined with increased conflict and high food prices to worsen the humanitarian situation. An estimated 6.7 million people are experiencing severe food insecurity, including 2.2 million people who are estimated to be be in Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Phase 4 (emergency levels) and at least 300,000 people in Phase 5 (catastrophe levels).14 Between July 2022 and June 2023, an estimated 1.8 million children under the age of 5 will experience wasting, including more than 513,000 who are likely to be severely wasted.15 The total acute malnutrition burden is 54.5 per cent among the children in Somalia.16 The WASH Cluster reports that 6.4 million people face significant water shortages.17 The limited access to safe water has triggered a spike in acute watery diarrhoea/cholera cases. Since January 2022, 25 of the country's 74 drought-affected districts have recorded 10,440 cholera cases and 59 deaths, a case fatality rate of 0.6 per cent.18 The drought, insecurity and conflict have further degraded children's access to education and their protective environment. More than 1,000 grave child rights violations committed by armed forces were verified in the first half of 2022.19 More than 3.1 million children are out of school,20 and 900,000 are at risk of dropping out.21 The drought newly displaced 1,170,842 people between January and September 2022.22 While drought and looming famine are the major causes of internal displacement in Somalia, the revival of armed conflict between the federal government, the armed group Al-Shabaab and clan militias has also led to an upsurge in displacement. In September 2022, 101,000 people were displaced due to conflict and insecurity.23 In addition, an estimated 6.5 million people lack access to essential health services.24 And, from January to May, a 200 per cent rise in cases of gender-based violence was reported compared with the same period in 2021.25 With limited livelihood assets, few income-earning opportunities, rising food prices and high reliance on external humanitarian assistance, an estimated 71 per cent of Somalia's population lives below the poverty line.26 The urban poor - who already spend a disproportionately large amount of their income (60-80 per cent) on food - continue to struggle to feed themselves.27 The operating environment in Somalia is complex, marked by insecurity, armed clashes, poor infrastructure and movement restrictions. An estimated half a million people live within territory controlled by Al Shabaab, largely out of reach for humanitarian partners.28 Communities facing the impact of the drought and conflict often live in remote and hard-to-reach areas. While unable to reach everybody, UNICEF and its partners continue to scale up their presence through a variety of modalities to rapidly deliver and sustain access to essential services.