Under this phase, 2,009 vulnerable households in Jalalaqsi Town, Hiran Region, and 3,696 vulnerable households in Balcad District, Middle Shabelle Region, received emergency food assistance. In total, 5,705 households benefited from the intervention. The assistance aimed to reduce immediate food shortages, prevent negative coping mechanisms, and provide temporary relief to families severely impacted by drought-related shocks.
Despite these efforts, the response covered only a limited number of locations, reaching a small proportion of those in need. Humanitarian needs in Hirshabelle and across Somalia continue to exceed available resources. A significant funding gap in the humanitarian response has constrained the scale and scope of assistance, limiting the ability to reach all affected populations.
The Federal Government of Somalia continues to face capacity and resource limitations in responding to emergencies of this magnitude. Ongoing climate shocks, insecurity, and economic challenges have further strained national response mechanisms, leaving many communities without adequate support.
SoDMA’s mandate remains primarily technical, coordination-based, and logistical, including leading disaster response coordination, facilitating humanitarian access, and supporting early warning and preparedness mechanisms. However, the agency is currently facing serious financial constraints, which have hindered its ability to scale up urgent food assistance, strengthen drought preparedness, and implement disaster risk reduction and resilience-building programs nationwide.