Recent surge in the prices of fuel and essential goods is worsening an already severe humanitarian crisis and hampering humanitarian operations in Somalia.
Fuel prices have doubled in recent days from $0.60 to $1.50 per litre, or a more than 100 per cent increase largely due to the impact of the escalation in the Middle East, according to authorities and partners.
These rising costs are driving up the prices of food and water, while transport costs for humanitarian operations have doubled.
Somalia imports more than 90 per cent of its essential commodities.
Shipments of nutrition items, medicine, water and sanitation materials, and other critical supplies are facing delays.
The country is already experiencing severe drought, with at least 6.5 million Somalis facing high levels of hunger and more than 1.8 million children facing acute malnutrition.
The drought, which has been ongoing since late last year and has affected nearly five million people  or a quarter of all people in the country.
Funding gaps are holding back the response, despite the UN and its partners having the capacity to do more.
The 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan seeks $852 million to support 2.4 million people this year but has so far received just 11 per cent or $97 million.
