Food Assistance Fact Sheet - Somalia

March 26, 2013

Food Security Situation

CIA World Factbook

• Throughout the last 20 years, Somalia has experienced recurrent conflict and drought, including a severe food crisis and famine conditions in 2011, making it one of the most difficult locations for humanitarian response. 

• Recent improvements in food security are the result of humanitarian interventions and average October to December 2012 seasonal rains that boosted food and livestock production.  However, 1.05 million people - 14 percent of the populations - are experiencing acute food insecurity. 

• Malnutrition rates remain among the highest in the world.  An estimated 215,000 children under five years of age are acutely malnourished, out of which at least 45,000 are severely malnourished.  

• Early forecasts indicate that the April to June 2013 seasonal rains will be normal to below normal.  A poor rainy season would increase the number of households experiencing crisis level food insecurity. 

Food Assistance Programs

• The Office of Food for Peace (FFP) targets drought-affected, food-insecure Somali households countrywide.

• FFP supports the UN World Food Program (WFP), other public international organizations, and non-governmental organizations on relief, nutrition, livelihoods, and social safety net activities within Somalia. These activities include cash- and market-based interventions such as cash transfers, cash for work, and food vouchers.

Food for Peace Contributions

Total Contributions:

Fiscal Year 2013 Contribution Breakdown:

Title II: In-kind food assistance; EFSP: Cash-based food assistance
*Food Security Situation information provided by FEWS NET, FSNAU, and WFP as of January 2013
EFSP: Emergency Food Security Program; FEWS NET: Famine Early Warning Systems Network; FSNAU: Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit