In 2024, Somalia faced overlapping crises driven by conflict and climate change, affecting 9.1 million people – 47 per cent of the population. The country was rated highest globally in humanitarian crisis risk, according to the EU-led INFORM index. Alternating floods and droughts devastated already fragile communities, with La Niña-induced drought worsening food insecurity and malnutrition. By December, 4.4 million people were in IPC Phase 3 (crisis) or above, and malnutrition rates rose by up to 21 per cent compared to 2023.

Action Against Hunger responded by delivering lifesaving assistance in 29 districts, including all 10 priority districts for humanitarian intervention. Through our primary pillar of emergency response, we reached over 3.1 million people with Health and Nutrition and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene programmes. These programmes supported 112 health facilities, 10 nutrition stabilisation centers, and deployed 561 community health workers and 23 mobile teams. This led to major reductions in malnutrition and cholera, including a 98 per cent cure rate for severe acute malnutrition and an 87 per cent decrease in cholera cases in Kismayo between weeks 27 and 36 of the outbreak.

Under its second pillar focused on resilience and prevention, Action Against Hunger implemented integrated food security, livelihoods, and protection initiatives, benefiting over 50,000 people. In Baidoa, 54 per cent of targeted farmers achieved surplus harvests, and in Jowhar, cooperatives produced 160 tons of fodder with an estimated income of 1,560 USD (1345 EUR) per cooperative.

Key projects included the Damal Caafimaad (Health Plus) Project, which supported 92 health facilities and over 1.2 million people, showing strong improvements in service uptake. The Caafimaad Plus consortium, led by Action Against Hunger, introduced health service digitalisation, enhancing data and inventory management. We also played a key advocacy role, supporting updates to national malnutrition guidelines and legislation on humanitarian aid governance.