Iran conflict impacting Somalia aid for starving families, Unicef says

WorldEnvironment
27 Mar 2026 • 10:28 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

image is not available

  • Unicef has warned that children in Somalia are critically malnourished, with some too weak to cry, describing them as being "on the edge".
  • The severe malnutrition crisis is a direct result of a devastating drought caused by four consecutive failed rainy seasons, forcing many families to become displaced.
  • Families, like those in the Ladan camp in Dollow, have lost their farm animals and livelihoods, with one widow reporting only black tea for sustenance.
  • Aid workers face significant challenges, as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is complicating efforts to deliver humanitarian assistance to Somalia.
  • UNICEF has $15.7m worth of life-saving supplies intended for Somalia, but the delivery of these crucial shipments is currently uncertain.

IN FULL