WFP: Strait of Hormuz closure worsening Somalia’s hunger crisis
5/7/2026 6:19:17 PM
The fallout from the war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz have led to rising fuel and food prices, disrupting supply chains in some countries, including Somalia, where a dire hunger crisis has worsened.
The World Food Programme (WFP) says Somalia is facing one of the “most complex hunger crises in recent years” because of drought, conflict and limited humanitarian assistance.
In its latest findings, the number of people suffering “crisis-level hunger or worse has nearly doubled in a year, to 6.5 million,” including two million in “emergency hunger, the second highest level of food insecurity”.
“Entire families have had to once again make the toughest choices,” Hameed Nuru, WFP country director in Somalia, told Al Jazeera.
“Sell the little assets they had, reduce or completely cut meals, and leave everything behind to find help – but this time there’s no help available,” Nuru said.
The World Food Programme (WFP) says Somalia is facing one of the “most complex hunger crises in recent years” because of drought, conflict and limited humanitarian assistance.
In its latest findings, the number of people suffering “crisis-level hunger or worse has nearly doubled in a year, to 6.5 million,” including two million in “emergency hunger, the second highest level of food insecurity”.
“Entire families have had to once again make the toughest choices,” Hameed Nuru, WFP country director in Somalia, told Al Jazeera.
“Sell the little assets they had, reduce or completely cut meals, and leave everything behind to find help – but this time there’s no help available,” Nuru said.