Pope Leo XIV has issued an urgent appeal for international support to address the worsening humanitarian emergency in Somalia. Speaking to gathered faithful in St. Peter’s Square during his Sunday Angelus address, the Pontiff expressed deep concern over the severe hardship facing vulnerable populations, particularly women and children, as the East African nation grapples with a compound threat of persistent violence and extreme weather. He urged the global community to respond generously to ensure essential relief reaches those most in need.
The Pope’s plea highlights a critical shortage in international assistance, as several key United Nations agencies have been forced to roll back operations due to severe underfunding. The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that it has received only a third of its reduced budget, while the World Food Programme (WFP) has slashed its coverage drastically—cutting the number of food aid recipients from 2 million down to 600,000 this year. The situation is further compounded by a severe drought following significantly below-average rainfall in 2026, forcing pastoralist families to migrate with their livestock in search of water.
In addition to food and water shortages, the healthcare infrastructure in affected areas is collapsing under the strain. Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has appealed to international donors to restore and expand critical primary healthcare and malnutrition treatments in regions like Mudug, where over 70 health facilities have been forced to close. With Somalia suffering from internal conflict and militant activity since the fall of Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, the combination of ongoing insurgency and severe climate disruption continues to push millions of lives to the brink.