Somalia's Silent Suffering: A Drought of Devastating Proportions

This week we turn our attention to a situation that just a few years ago, would have dominated world headlines and moved the world to action, yet today is hardly mentioned by the world’s news media–the devastating humanitarian crisis in Somalia, where over 6 million people are facing acute food insecurity. We take a look at the human impacts—widespread displacement, child malnutrition, school closures, water shortages, and increased risks to women and girls—and outline current humanitarian responses, funding shortfalls, and the role of climate change. As always, we then turn to see where we might focus our intentions and prayers. Intentions and prayers start at 15 minutes 59 seconds. Suggested Intention Focus for this week This week, as we reflect on the mass humanitarian crisis that’s occurring in Somalia as a result of prolonged drought, we suggest holding as our main intention: We will that all Somalis will be guided in the impossible decisions they must take each day, between skipping meals, drinking from unclean water sources, consuming seed stocks meant for future planting, and selling off any remaining assets. Please join us in holding this. Donations Aid agencies and charities currently accepting donations for people affected by drought in Somalia include: Action Against Hunger – Somalia drought response https://www.actionagainsthunger.org ADRA – Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Somalia drought relief) https://adra.org/es/relief-for-drought-in-somalia Global Helping Hands – Somalia drought relief appeal https://ghh.org.uk/insights/donate-to-somalia-drought-relief Human Appeal – Somalia / East Africa emergency appeal https://humanappeal.org.uk/appeals/somalia-emergency-appeal International Rescue Committee (IRC) – Somalia country page and donation routes https://www.rescue.org/uk/country/somalia Mercy Corps – Help tackle hunger in Somalia (drought emergency) https://europe.mercycorps.org/en-gb/donate/help-tackle-hunger-somalia-offline Muslim Hands – Somalia Emergency Fund https://muslimhands.org.uk/donate/somalia/somalia-emergency UNHCR – Horn of Africa drought emergency (including Somalia) https://donate.unhcr.org/int/en/horn-africa-drought-emergency UNHCR – Help families in Somalia (country‑specific appeal) https://giving.unhcr.org/en/somalia Zamzam Foundation – Somali national charity (drought, floods, and conflict response) https://zamzamfoundation.org.uk “Where to Donate for Somalia” – Curated list of vetted charities working in Somalia (not itself a charity) https://arab.org/portal/somalia/where-to-donate Chapter markers: 00:00:00            Introduction 00:01:48            Crisis in Somalia 00:05:58            Humanitarian Response Efforts 00:07:55            The Ongoing Challenges 00:12:10            Funding and Aid Limitations 00:14:12            The Bleak Situation 00:15:59            Intentions and Prayers Sources referenced in this episode: https://www.savethechildren.net/news/somalia-children-facing-catastrophic-hunger-drought-decimates-crops-livestock  https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/02/1167026  https://www.fao.org/somalia/news/details/intensifying-somalia-drought-likely-to-be-as-severe-as-previous-prolonged-dry-periods--fao-warns/en https://reliefweb.int/report/somalia/somalia-children-facing-catastrophic-hunger-drought-decimates-crops-livestock https://www.wfp.org/news/somalias-humanitarian-crisis-worsening-65-million-people-facing-high-levels-hunger-federal   https://www.actionagainsthunger.org/story/4-4-million-at-risk-action-against-hunger-responds-to-somalias-worsening-drought/       https://www.aljazeera.com/gallery/2026/4/27/somalia-hunger-crisis-worsens-as-drought-displaces-over-500000-people     https://reliefweb.int/report/somalia/somalia-2025-drought-emergency-situation-report-no-1-27-november-2025    https://reliefweb.int/report/somalia/somalia-drought-dref-operation-mdrso022  https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-announces-6m-humanitarian-drought-response-funding-to-somalia  https://reliefweb.int/report/somalia/multi-million-euro-funding-support-drought-stricken-communities-somalia https://www.rescue.org/article/crisis-somalia-what-you-need-know-and-how-help https://civil-protection-humanitarian-aid.ec.europa.eu/news-stories/news/eu-announces-eu63-million-somalia-respond-worsening-humanitarian-crisis-2026-02-26_en https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/opinion/2026/02/19/somalia-facing-disastrous-drought-not-time-weaponise-aid https://faoswalim.org/resources/site_files/Somalia_Gu_Climate_Outlook_7_Feb_2026 .pdf https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/02/1160521 https://blogs.worldbank.org/en/africacan/mapping-climate-change-and-drought-somalia https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/newsevents/news/2025/climate-shock-and-water-crisis-somalia-human-and-environmental-consequences https://www.opastpublishers.com/open-access-articles/drought-patterns-and-their-effects-on-agriculture-in-somalia-a-comprehensive-review.pdf Join us in person for intention holding:  https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/events-1 Labyrinth Activist Network Zoom calls   https://insighttimer.com/cliverj Daily intention holding with Clive on Insight Timer.   Our websites:  www.heartfulimpact.com/   Our show website.   https://globalhealingresponse.com/ Global Healing Response ~ Offers a wealth of prayers, suggested practices and prompts in response to environmental catastrophe, conflict, and other world events.   https://www.legacylabyrinthproject.org/ Legacy Labyrinth Project ~ Creating global energetic connections through the labyrinth; inspiring active intention sending using the labyrinth via labyrinth activism.   https://www.clivejohnsonministry.com/ Clive Johnson Ministry ~ Events and offerings aimed at building beloved community, including weekly energy holding vigils and Power of Eight group.   https://insighttimer.com/cliverj ~ Daily intention holding.   Impact! Is presented by Ellen Bintz and Clive Johnson. It is produced by Impact Productions.   Our show content is hosted by Podbean and available from all major podcast platforms.   Our theme music is by Chris Collins. indiemusicbox.com.   Our logo artwork is by AltoClassic (Getty Images/istock).   Contact us via Facebook Messenger from the Impact! Facebook group, or using any of the contact methods mentioned on our websites.   Impact! www.heartfulimpact.com.