The devastating drought continues to threaten the lives of 607,000 pregnant women around the country. More than 130,000 of them may require critical and urgent assistance. Somalia already has one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world; one out of every 22 women is likely to die due to pregnancy or childbirth-related causes during her life course.

The food security situation has further deteriorated in the month of March, which is usually the peak of the pastoral lean season, and Hawd and Addun Pastoral livelihood zones are now in Crisis (IPC Phase 3) according to the latest analysis from the Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Unit (FSNAU). The situation continues to deteriorate at an alarming rate, with massive displacements and diseases continuing to spread, causing extensive human suffering and deaths.