Reuters: Iran war deepens Somalia’s food crisis as aid routes collapse

Disruptions to shipping caused by the war in Iran are delaying the delivery of vital food aid to Somalia, worsening hunger that affects hundreds of thousands of children.

Longer delivery times and rising costs have led to reduced stocks of therapeutic food used to treat severe malnutrition, Reuters reports.

This is forcing clinics to ration supplies or turn children away, according to humanitarian groups.

Nearly half a million children under the age of five are suffering from severe acute malnutrition, while hospital admissions are rising as drought and reduced aid continue to deplete resources.

Shipments that previously took around one month are now being delayed by up to two months due to blockages in routes through the Persian Gulf. At the same time, sharply increased costs are limiting the number of children who can receive treatment.

Humanitarian agencies have warned that the combined impact of the conflict, funding shortages, and logistical delays risks pushing even more children into life-threatening conditions.

By Jeyhun Aghazada