Somalia, 5 November 2025 – North East State’s Ministry of Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Management has issued an alert over worsening drought conditions affecting large parts of the region, warning that the crisis is severely impacting communities, livestock and wildlife.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the ministry said multiple districts across the region are facing critical water shortages, reduced crop output and deteriorating livestock conditions due to repeated failed rains — conditions it described as among the worst in recent years.
According to the ministry, the drought has led to declining food supplies, malnutrition risks and limited access to clean water, particularly in rural areas.
Residents in parts of Sanaag, Sool, and Hayland, as well as sections of Ayn region, are reported to be among the hardest hit.
“We are witnessing widespread food shortages, water scarcity, and worsening health conditions, especially for pregnant women and children,” the ministry said.
Officials also warned that prolonged drought has increased the spread of livestock diseases, threatening pastoral livelihoods, and elevated the risk of displacement if assistance does not reach communities in time.
The ministry appealed to humanitarian partners and the wider Somali public to assist drought-affected households, noting that the situation requires coordinated and urgent support to prevent further deterioration.
The warning comes as food security conditions continue to decline nationwide, according to World Food Program (WFP) and other humanitarian monitors, following a severely dry Xagaa season (July–September) and forecast poor Deyr rains (October–December 2025).
The failed rains have contributed to reduced off-season harvests, falling river levels and weakened livestock productivity, increasing market dependency and hardship among poor rural households.
