Friday February 13, 2026
Mogadishu (HOL) — The United Kingdom has announced £6 million in additional humanitarian funding to support drought-affected communities in Somalia, as the country faces escalating climate pressures and growing food insecurity.
The announcement was made by the UK Minister for International Development and Africa, Baroness Jenny Chapman, during her first official visit to Somalia. Her visit included high-level meetings in Mogadishu with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and senior government officials, as well as engagements with humanitarian and security partners.
During the meeting, the Minister emphasized the UK’s transition from a traditional donor model toward to an investment-driven development partnership. The approach aims to strengthen Somalia’s resilience to climate shocks, expand economic opportunities, and reduce long-term vulnerability, while also addressing drivers of irregular migration.
Baroness Chapman acknowledged the Federal Government of Somalia’s leadership in coordinating drought response efforts and agreed to maintain close collaboration to address urgent humanitarian needs.
The Minister congratulated the Somali government on its response to the ongoing food security crisis. Through joint efforts between the Federal Government, the UK, the World Bank, and the United Nations, more than 500,000 drought-affected individuals are currently receiving emergency cash assistance.
She also welcomed the activation of the UK-supported African Risk Capacity (ARC) insurance policy, which triggered $3.4 million in rapid payouts to the Somali government for emergency drought response. The ARC mechanism is designed to provide pre-arranged financing to enable faster and more effective assistance when climate shocks occur.
In addition, the ARC Replica insurance policy has been activated for the Start Network and the World Food Programme (WFP), releasing more than $2 million to humanitarian partners. The Start Network’s pre-arranged financing facility, Start Ready, has already disbursed nearly $3 million for anticipatory action in Somalia, helping to mitigate humanitarian impacts before conditions deteriorate further.
The UK has supported these risk financing and early action mechanisms since their inception, aiming to improve the efficiency and timeliness of humanitarian responses.
During a visit to a WFP warehouse in Mogadishu alongside Deputy Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama, Baroness Chapman formally announced £6 million in new humanitarian assistance. The funding will target the highest-need areas and is expected to deliver life-saving support to more than 129,000 people affected by drought.
The new £6 million in humanitarian support forms part of a broader £61 million UK funding package for the 2025/26 financial year aimed at addressing both immediate humanitarian needs and the structural drivers of crisis in Somalia. The package includes over £12 million allocated to a joint partnership between the Federal Government of Somalia, the World Food Programme, and the World Bank to deliver shock-responsive social protection to the most vulnerable drought-affected households.
Speaking at the warehouse, the Minister stressed the importance of delivering assistance before conditions worsen and called for sustained cooperation between the UK, the Somali government, the United Nations, and other partners to protect vulnerable communities.
Concluding her visit, Baroness Chapman met with leaders of the United Nations Support Office in Somalia (UNSOS) and the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission in Somalia (AUSSOM), expressing appreciation for their continued commitment to Somalia’s security and stabilization.
At the UN air operations facility, she reviewed the operational support provided to AU and Somali forces and highlighted the UK’s contributions to both UNSOS and AUSSOM. The Minister also met UK service personnel deployed under Operation Tangham, thanking them for their role in training the Somali National Army.
UK assistance, officials said, continues to focus on strengthening Somali security institutions, countering violent extremism, and supporting long-term stability.
