A nationwide mass nutrition screening effort has identified over 5,700 acutely malnourished children across Somalia, offering a vital lifeline amid the country’s ongoing nutrition crisis. Conducted under the Somalia Humanitarian Fund (SHF) 2024 Standard Allocation 1 (SA1), the campaign reached 22,573 children and 3,418 pregnant and lactating women in vulnerable districts. The initiative, known as Mass MUAC Screening (MMS), flagged 1,069 children with Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) and 4,712 with Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM), all of whom were referred for emergency treatment. Health officials say that without intervention, many of these children would have faced life-threatening consequences.
“Behind every number is a child whose life was potentially saved,” said one humanitarian official, emphasizing the urgency of continued support. The screening was rolled out in areas including Baidoa, Kismayo, Galkayo, Dhobley, Kahda, and Daynile, where malnutrition rates are alarmingly high. In Dhobley alone, nearly half of the children screened showed signs of acute malnutrition.
Chronic food insecurity, poor health infrastructure, disease outbreaks, and overcrowded displacement camps are fueling the crisis. Aid groups are calling for increased investment in mobile health services, quarterly screenings, and stronger multi-sector coordination, including water, sanitation, and food security—to tackle root causes.
Though the intervention marks a critical step forward, humanitarian actors warn the situation remains precarious and urge sustained efforts to prevent further deterioration of child health across Somalia.
