Critical updates
The October-December 2025 rainy season has completely failed across extensive areas of Somalia, eastern Kenya, and southern Ethiopia. Any recovery through December rains is now unattainable, representing the second or third consecutive deficient season for numerous impacted regions.
Agricultural and livestock conditions remain dire throughout the affected zone. Kenya is experiencing total crop failure or minimal harvests, while in Ethiopia, inadequate seasonal rains in southern pastoral regions are severely impacting livestock-dependent communities. Somalia has witnessed drought displacement of more than 185,000 individuals, with extensive crop losses and severely deteriorated pastoral conditions documented. The nation officially declared a drought crisis on November 10, 2025.
Food insecurity will substantially intensify in early 2026 during the upcoming pastoral lean season peaking February-March and the agropastoral lean season peaking April-June, with households confronting poor harvests, exhausted food reserves, diminished milk production, livestock fatalities, and increasing acute malnutrition rates among children.
Urgent measures are required. Livelihood assistance to enable communities to counteract the effects of the current inadequate rainy season must be initiated immediately, and preparations for life-saving emergency interventions to alleviate food shortages and to address and treat acute malnutrition should commence without delay.