Since September, the number of Somalis in need of humanitarian assistance has increased from five million to 6.2 million. Almost three million people are facing an acute food security crisis. About 363,000 acutely malnourished children are in desperate need of critical nutrition support, including more than 71,000 who require life-saving treatment. Hunger, drought and war have already displaced two million Somalis, and the threat of famine is likely to force even more people from their homes.

This roundtable was convened by the Humanitarian Policy Group (HPG) at ODI to explore the challenges humanitarian actors and policy-makers face in responding to the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Somalia. Somalia is on the brink of its second famine in six years. The Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU) Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWSNet) has warned that famine is likely if the upcoming Gu season rains fail.

The roundtable centred on reviewing the current situation and drawing on lessons from the past to inform the current and planned humanitarian response.