Norway provides additional 15 million kroner in emergency aid to Somalia
Press release | Date: 17/04/2026 | Ministry of Foreign Affairs
People in Somalia are being hit hard by severe hunger. The combination of drought, conflict, rising prices and reduced international aid has led to a dramatic deterioration in the food situation in Somalia. Millions of people lack access to sufficient and nutritious food, and needs are rising rapidly.
‘The hunger situation in Somalia is acute and developing rapidly. When so many people lack food, and children are hit hardest, it is crucial that we act quickly, said Minister for Development’, Åsmund Aukrust.
The humanitarian situation is particularly serious for children. Over 1.8 million children under the age of five are estimated to suffer from acute malnutrition, of whom nearly half a million require treatment for severe acute malnutrition.
At the same time, around 6.5 million people are facing crisis levels of hunger, of whom around 2 million are facing emergency levels of hunger. This is almost double the figure from 2025.
Critical funding shortfall
Whilst the needs are enormous, the aid arriving is far too little. As of April, only 12 per cent of urgent needs have been funded. A lack of funds means that vital food and nutrition aid is at risk of being reduced or halted in the coming months.
Rising fuel and food prices are further exacerbating the situation and making it increasingly difficult for people to meet their own basic needs. The global and extremely serious consequences of the energy crisis and the war in the Middle East will be a key topic at the World Bank’s spring meeting in Washington D.C., where Aukrust is attending this week. There, he will also meet Somalia’s Minister of Finance for an update on the crisis unfolding in the country.
‘When funding fails at the same time as needs are exploding, we risk a serious famine developing into a humanitarian disaster with more deaths and displacement. This is a responsibility the international community must take extremely seriously’, said Aukrust.
Support for the World Food Programme
The Norwegian funds will go to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), which plays a central role in emergency relief work in Somalia. The WFP has the capacity to rapidly scale up its efforts in the hardest-hit areas, but in recent years has been forced to reduce the number of people receiving aid due to a lack of funding.
The new allocation of NOK 15 million is in addition to Norway’s regular humanitarian support to Somalia. In total, Norwegian humanitarian aid to the country will amount to NOK 102 million in 2026.