Somalia’s maternal health and protection response has secured only a quarter of the $27 million it needs, the United Nations Population Fund said in its October situation report, as conflict and disease outbreaks disrupt care for women and girls.
The agency’s July–September report puts the funding shortfall at roughly $20 million. It said shortages threaten reproductive health supplies, services for survivors of gender-based violence and preparations to keep essential care operating during floods.
In Baidoa, fighting in early September displaced 14,832 people, according to the report. Women, children and older people accounted for 79 per cent. Families forced to move face interrupted referrals and reduced access to sexual and reproductive health services.
UNFPA said its programmes reached more than 55,000 people during the third quarter. Its flood preparations draw on services in 12 exposed districts, where maintaining access to care and medical supplies is a priority.
Malnutrition adds to the risks facing pregnant and breastfeeding women. In a joint government and UN warning issued on 23 September, agencies projected that 5.4 million people would face crisis-level hunger or worse between October and December. Some 1.92 million children under five were expected to need treatment for acute malnutrition over the year ending June 2027.
The health response is also contending with cholera, measles, diphtheria and acute watery diarrhoea, UNFPA reported.
Read more: Conflict drives most new displacement in Somalia, UNHCR reports.
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