By Abukar Osman - Reporter
Somalia, 20 December 2025 - The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says that more than 55,000 Somalis have fled to Ethiopia following a severe drought caused by the failure of the October–December 2025 Deyr rains in Somalia.
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) said on Friday that the poor rains severely affected much of the eastern Horn of Africa, triggering widespread displacement, particularly in Somalia. The agency warned that food security conditions could further deteriorate in the early months of 2026.
Overall, more than 185,000 people have been displaced in Somalia due to drought, while tens of thousands have crossed borders, worsening the humanitarian situation across the region.
Speaking to the media, Cyril Ferrand, FAO’s Resilience Team Leader for Eastern Africa, said that large areas of Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia have been hit by rainfall shortages, forcing many rural communities to abandon their homes.
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“Some areas are heading toward their driest rainy season on record since 1981,” Ferrand said.
FAO noted that the lack of rainfall has already led to crop losses and a deterioration in livestock conditions, increasing the risk of hunger and further displacement. The agency warned that without urgent action, the drought could escalate into a major humanitarian crisis.
The Somali government has already declared a drought emergency, while humanitarian agencies caution that funding for response plans remains critically low, even as needs continue to rise.
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