Somalia shuts 205 health facilities amid aid cuts

UNICEF warns that Somalia’s child malnutrition crisis is deepening as funding cuts force the closure of 205 health and nutrition facilities, with as many as 618 at risk of closing. Admissions of children with severe acute malnutrition and related complications rose by 32% in the first half of 2026 compared with the previous year, underscoring the widening gap in access to care. Nearly 1.9 million children are expected to be affected by malnutrition this year, including about 500,000 with severe acute malnutrition, amid drought, conflict and rising costs. UNICEF and MSF note that closures mean longer journeys to treatment, delaying care and increasing the risk of preventable deaths. Donor funding shortfalls are described as the immediate driver of the crisis, prompting urgent calls for renewed international support to sustain lifesaving services. The situation highlights the compounded humanitarian challenges facing Somalia, including drought, displacement and climate pressures, as aid access remains precarious.