Country: Somalia
Sources: Health Cluster, World Health Organization
Please refer to the attached file.
- The escalating crisis context leaves thousands of children at heightened risk of severe illness and preventable mortality without immediate intervention. MSF, UNICEF, and humanitarian partners are raising alarm over worsening food insecurity and rapidly deteriorating malnutrition rates across Somalia, with Baidoa identified as a critical epicenter.
- Disease Outbreak Burden: Measles and diphtheria remain critical threats nationwide. In the first half of 2026, the Federal Ministry of Health reported 11,604 suspected measles cases (72% in children under five) with 42 deaths, alongside 4,016 diphtheria cases and 102 deaths (CFR 3%).
- Acute Watery Diarrhea and cholera continue to pose significant threat, particularly in drought-affected and displaced populations, where poor sanitation, disrupt ed health services, and overcrowding drive heightened vulnerability.
- Low immunization coverage, compounded by displace ment and limited access to health services, continue to drive persistent and recurrent risk of outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases.
- The humanitarian health response remains critically underfunded, with only 25 per cent of the health sector requirement funded as of August 2026, constraining essential health services, medicine supply, disease surveillance and outbreak preparedness and response.
- Forecast El Niño conditions during October–December may increase the risk of flooding and waterborne disease outbreaks, underscoring the need for strength ened preparedness, surveillance and pre-positioning of essential supplies.