Pope Leo XIV Prays for Somalia's Humanitarian Crisis
Pope Leo XIV prayed for an end to the violence in Somalia and for assistance in addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis during the Angelus on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square. “I am following with great concern the human…
Pope Leo XIV prayed for an end to the violence in Somalia and for assistance in addressing the ongoing humanitarian crisis during the Angelus on Sunday in St. Peter’s Square.
“I am following with great concern the humanitarian crisis unfolding in parts of Somalia, where episodes of violence and extreme weather events are worsening the already precarious living conditions of the population, particularly women and children,” he stated.
The Pope emphasized his hopes for a “generous response from the international community, so that these brothers and sisters of ours may receive the assistance they need.” His remarks came as various United Nations agencies drastically reduced their humanitarian aid for the country in recent months.
According to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), only a third of its already reduced budget had been funded. Additionally, the UN World Food Programme reported a significant reduction in food aid, decreasing from assisting 2 million people to only 600,000 in 2026. The region has seen below-average rainfall in 2026, forcing many families to move their herds in search of water.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) called upon donors to help restore and expand primary healthcare and malnutrition services in the Mudug region, where over 70 health facilities have closed. Somalia has endured internal conflict since the fall of Mohamed Siad Barre in 1991, with Islamist extremists strengthening their hold over the countryside.
