World Ecology Day

  Somalia has consistently recorded the highest levels of food insecurity globally between 2019 and 2024. These persistently high levels reflect the interaction of ecological stress, climatic extremes, conflict and chronic governance gaps . Recurrent droughts, erratic rainfall, and flooding have disrupted ecosystems and livelihoods. This has been further aggravated by ongoing conflict since the late 1980s. Dependence on rain-fed agriculture and livestock leaves the country highly vulnerable to rainfall variability. Repeated climate shocks have reduced crop yields, undermined livestock health, and depleted water sources, heightening vulnerability among farming and pastoralist households. These pressures are compounded by conflict, displacement, and disrupted markets, all of which limit access to food and humanitarian aid. Conflict in Somalia has also accelerated environmental decline. For example, the country’s mostly arid rangelands and scrub-savanna rely on hardy acacia tree...

  The ETR food insecurity indicator measures the likelihood that people will have sufficient food, considering availability, accessibility, affordability, and the risks posed by conflict and violence to supply chains. The indicator examines both national conditions and subnational disparities, capturing overall food supply, household purchasing power, and the effects of inequality and conflict , which disrupt markets and restrict people’s ability to obtain food. As of 2024, the ETR identifies 208 subnational areas with very high levels of food insecurity and a further 696 with high risk levels, representing nearly a third of all subnational areas. Furthermore, around three billion people currently reside in medium risk areas, making up approximately 39 per cent of the global population.   Complementing these findings, the FAO estimates that between 638 and 720 million people experienced hunger in 2024, with the largest shares in Africa and Asia. Around 28 per cent of the glob...