Doha: UNICEF warned Friday that cuts in humanitarian aid in Somalia are putting children's lives at risk, with around 1.2 million children expected to suffer from malnutrition this year.

According to Qatar News Agency, UNICEF spokesperson James Elder stated that unprecedented funding cuts have forced hundreds of nutrition and health facilities to close. Additionally, other essential services, such as education and child protection, are also experiencing a decline.

Elder explained that there has been a 32 percent increase in the admission of children to stabilization centers for severe acute malnutrition in the first six months of the year compared to the same period in 2025. This surge is largely attributed to cuts in preventive and community-based nutrition services.

He further highlighted that Somalia is grappling with worsening pressures, including severe drought in the north, anticipated flooding in the coming months, and escalating fuel and fertilizer costs linked to the conflict in the Middle East.

Elder warned that approximately 500,000 children are expected to suffer from severe acute malnutrition, the most dangerous form of malnutrition. Declining funding is making it increasingly difficult to deliver life-saving assistance to those in need.