The United Nations food agency has announced a significant reduction in food assistance for hundreds of thousands of people in Somalia, where millions are grappling with the catastrophic effects of climate change and severe hunger. The World Food Program (WFP) revealed that the number of individuals receiving emergency food aid will plummet from 1.1 million in August to just 350,000 by November, citing ‘critical funding shortfalls’ as the primary cause. Ross Smith, the agency’s director of emergency preparedness and response, warned of a ‘dangerous rise in emergency levels of hunger,’ emphasizing that the ability to respond is diminishing daily. ‘Without urgent funding, families already pushed to the edge will be left with nothing at a time when they need it most,’ he stated. Recent U.N. reports indicate that 4.6 million Somalis are experiencing crisis-level hunger, with 1.8 million children projected to suffer from acute malnutrition this year. Among these, 421,000 children face severe malnutrition, yet the WFP has only managed to assist approximately 180,000. Somalia’s plight is exacerbated by decades of conflict and insecurity, with the al-Qaida-linked militant group al-Shabab controlling several regions. Additionally, U.S. foreign aid cuts have further strained humanitarian agencies already struggling to meet the needs of the vulnerable population. The WFP has urgently requested $98 million to sustain life-saving operations for 800,000 people through the lean season until March 2026.