Somalia's Silent Suffering: A Drought of Devastating Proportions

This week we turn our attention to a situation that just a few years ago, would have dominated world headlines and moved the world to action, yet today is hardly mentioned by the world’s news media–the devastating humanitarian crisis in Somalia, where over 6 million people are facing acute food insecurity. We take a look at the human impacts—widespread displacement, child malnutrition, school closures, water shortages, and increased risks to women and girls—and outline current humanitarian responses, funding shortfalls, and the role of climate change. As always, we then turn to see where we might focus our intentions and prayers. Intentions and prayers start at 15 minutes 59 seconds. Suggested Intention Focus for this week This week, as we reflect on the mass humanitarian crisis that’s occurring in Somalia as a result of prolonged drought, we suggest holding as our main intention: We will that all Somalis will be guided in the impossible decisions they must take each day, between skipping meals, drinking from unclean water sources, consuming seed stocks meant for future planting, and selling off any remaining assets. Please join us in holding this. Donations Aid agencies and charities currently accepting donations for people affected by drought in Somalia include: Action Against Hunger – Somalia drought response https://www.actionagainsthunger.org ADRA – Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Somalia drought relief) https://adra.org/es/relief-for-drought-in-somalia Global Helping Hands – Somalia drought relief appeal https://ghh.org.uk/insights/donate-to-somalia-drought-relief Human Appeal – Somalia / East Africa emergency appeal https://humanappeal.org.uk/appeals/somalia-emergency-appeal International Rescue Committee (IRC) – Somalia country page and donation routes https://www.rescue.org/uk/country/somalia Mercy Corps – Help tackle hunger in Somalia (drought emergency) https://europe.mercycorps.org/en-gb/donate/help-tackle-hunger-somalia-offline Muslim Hands – Somalia Emergency Fund https://muslimhands.org.uk/donate/somalia/somalia-emergency UNHCR – Horn of Africa drought emergency (including Somalia) https://donate.unhcr.org/int/en/horn-africa-drought-emergency UNHCR – Help families in Somalia (country‑specific appeal) https://giving.unhcr.org/en/somalia Zamzam Foundation – Somali national charity (drought, floods, and conflict response) https://zamzamfoundation.org.uk “Where to Donate for Somalia” – Curated list of vetted charities working in Somalia (not itself a charity) https://arab.org/portal/somalia/where-to-donate Chapter markers: 00:00:00            Introduction 00:01:48            Crisis in Somalia 00:05:58            Humanitarian Response Efforts 00:07:55            The Ongoing Challenges 00:12:10            Funding and Aid Limitations 00:14:12            The Bleak Situation 00:15:59            Intentions and Prayers Sources referenced in this episode: https://www.savethechildren.net/news/somalia-children-facing-catastrophic-hunger-drought-decimates-crops-livestock  https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/02/1167026  https://www.fao.org/somalia/news/details/intensifying-somalia-drought-likely-to-be-as-severe-as-previous-prolonged-dry-periods--fao-warns/en https://reliefweb.int/report/somalia/somalia-children-facing-catastrophic-hunger-drought-decimates-crops-livestock https://www.wfp.org/news/somalias-humanitarian-crisis-worsening-65-million-people-f