The European Union and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) have announced more than €15 million in funding to support humanitarian assistance in Somalia, where millions are facing severe food insecurity due to prolonged drought.

Under the agreement, the European Union will contribute €9 million between 2025 and 2026, while SDC will provide €6.1 million over a four-year period through a partnership with the Somali Cash Consortium (SCC).

Somalia is currently experiencing a deepening hunger crisis, with an estimated 6.5 million people affected by food insecurity after consecutive failed rainy seasons. Nearly one-third of the population is classified in acute food insecurity phases, including more than two million people in emergency conditions.

The SCC, led by Concern Worldwide, plans to deliver multi-purpose cash assistance to approximately 195,000 people. The program aims to help households meet essential needs such as food, water, healthcare, and shelter, while supporting local markets.

Humanitarian organizations report that conditions remain severe, particularly in displacement sites where families face extreme shortages of food and rising malnutrition rates. Despite some rainfall recorded in April, aid groups say it has not been sufficient to reverse crop failures, livestock losses, and widespread livelihood disruptions.

The SCC’s assistance will prioritize the most vulnerable populations, including female-headed households, displaced families, older people, individuals with disabilities, and malnourished children. Operations will focus on South Central Somalia, as well as Somaliland and Puntland, particularly in hard-to-reach areas with high levels of need.

The new funding comes amid a broader global decline in humanitarian aid, as agencies warn that additional resources are urgently needed to scale up life-saving assistance across the country.