Communities in Somalia are on the brink. Somalia is one of just three countries where the United States has fully cut off all lifesaving humanitarian aid - and the effects have been devastating. The last time the U.S. cut off humanitarian aid in 2010-2011, the country experienced a famine that killed 260,000 people. With Somalia again experiencing a years-long drought and facing a historically catastrophic El Niño flooding cycle expected to wipe out harvests again this fall, the added challenge of the abrupt aid cutoff may tip the country into famine. Meanwhile, the U.S. is also pushing to end the UN peacekeeping support mission there, which risks destabilizing the fragile progress in recent years on the security front. And while it is withholding humanitarian funding, the U.S. is bombing Somalia more than ever, and has even signed a security cooperation agreement with one of the regional governments. In this episode, we hear from Refugees International's Jeremy Konyndyk and Abdullahi Boru Halakhe, Senior Advocate for East and Southern Africa, who are just back from a trip to Somalia. They assess the impacts of the aid cutoff, what it means for famine risk and security prospects in Somalia, and what global leaders must do now. Timed Takeaways: [03:05] Stories from the ground: what the absence of U.S. aid has meant for families [12:41] Addressing the risk of famine and lessons learned from the 2011 response [22:01] Unpacking the security context: humanitarian and military policies at odds [35:36] Roundup: Displacement in the news this week Mentioned in This Episode: <a href="https://www.refugeesinternational.org/statements-and-news/just-back-from-somalia-refugees-international-warns-of-a-narrowing-window-to-prevent-famine-mortality/"> Just Back from Somalia: Refugees International Warns of a Narrowing Window to Prevent Famine & Mortality</a> - Refugees International <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/09/01/nx-s1-5944472/famine-usaid-fews-net?unified=true&renderPlatform=nprone_ios"> Whatever happened to the U.S. famine alert system that Trump shut down, then reopened</a> - NPR <a href="https://legis1.com/news/somalia-us-aid-policy-1-plans-to-end-peacekeeping"> U.S. Plans to End Somalia Peacekeeping Support</a> - Legis1 <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4g5kxw4wd7o">'It's like a dog set loose on us' - fear over Kenya's crackdown on foreign traders</a> - BBC <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/09/15/nx-s1-5961154/for-thousands-of-haitians-in-the-u-s-end-of-protected-status-brings-fear-grief-and-defiance"> For thousands of Haitians in the U.S., end of protected status brings fear, grief and defiance</a> - NPR <a href="https://www.npr.org/2026/09/11/nx-s1-5963930/tps-salvadorans-immgiration"> Trump administration allows TPS to continue for Salvadorans – for now</a> - NPR <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/0

What We Saw in Somalia

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