MOGADISHU, April 16 (Xinhua) -- The World Food Program (WFP) said Thursday it has delivered nutritional support to more than 180,000 children and pregnant or breastfeeding mothers in Somalia, funded by 4.5 million U.S. dollars in financial assistance.
The WFP said the funding has been crucial in helping prevent malnutrition amid worsening food insecurity in Somalia.
"Acute malnutrition levels are reaching a critical point in Somalia, with lifesaving nutrition services slashed by more than half since the beginning of 2025," said Hameed Nuru, WFP representative and country director in Somalia, in a statement.
The agency warned that Somalia's hunger crisis is rapidly deteriorating, with 6.5 million people -- about one-third of the population -- facing crisis levels of food insecurity, including two million in emergency conditions.
In 2026, an estimated 1.84 million children are expected to suffer from acute malnutrition in 2026, with over 483,000 likely to experience its most severe form, the WFP said.
"As needs rise, interventions like this, alongside lifesaving food assistance, are essential to ensure that vulnerable families continue receiving the support they urgently need," Nuru said.
According to the WFP, mothers and children in some of Somalia's most drought-affected areas have already benefited from the nutrition assistance, helping to protect their health and reduce the risk of malnutrition. ■
