618 health facilities at risk of closure in Somalia amid aid cuts: WHO

MOGADISHU, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Reductions in donor funding could force the closure of 618 health facilities in Somalia in 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday.

The UN health agency said 95 percent of Somalia's health budget depends on external financing, noting that 51 district hospitals, 413 health centers and 154 primary health units will likely close their doors in 2026 due to funding cuts.

"These facilities are lifelines, especially in regions that are hard to reach, prone to climate shocks and reporting the highest rates of malnutrition," the WHO said in its emergency appeal report.

Funding cuts have forced humanitarian agencies across Somalia to scale back or even close critical interventions, thereby drastically reducing life-saving programs and putting millions of lives at risk, according to the UN.

The WHO said that without renewed partner investment, Somalia risks reversing critical public health gains, increasing the likelihood of large-scale disease outbreaks and preventable deaths across the country.

In 2025, nearly six million people required humanitarian and protection assistance, yet only 20 percent of the humanitarian response plan, amounting to 1.42 billion U.S. dollars, was funded, the WHO said.

It also said armed clashes, road blockages and insecurity along major supply routes disrupted aid delivery and forced more than 20 health facilities to close in 2025 following advances by non-state armed groups. ■