Funding shortfalls are severely impacting humanitarian aid efforts in Somalia, where 4.6 million people are affected by drought. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that brutal cuts to aid budgets are hampering assistance to those in need. Between September and December, the drought displaced at least 120 000 people, water prices rose, food became scarce, and livestock died. Over 75 000 students have also dropped out of school. The situation is expected to worsen during the upcoming dry season (January–March), which could intensify water scarcity, livestock deaths and food insecurity. Humanitarian agencies are providing cash aid, animal fodder and emergency assistance, but their efforts are limited by a lack of funding. Although the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund recently allocated $10 million, only about $370 million has been received from the $1.4 billion Somalia response plan for 2025.
In other news, OCHA has warned that Sudan’s war, now nearing 1 000 days, has reached catastrophic levels. Civilians bear the brunt of widespread violence, displacement and constraints on humanitarian access. The conflict has spread to other regions, damaging critical infrastructure and worsening food insecurity and displacement across borders.
In Nigeria, two suspected fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) were arrested in Lagos State on 21 December. The suspects, Modu Gana and Ibrahim Dugge, were detained after intelligence indicated they had fled the conflict‑hit north‑east. Their arrests come amid Nigeria’s prolonged insurgency, which has lasted over 15 years and spread beyond Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states.
Meanwhile, the Kenyan government has repatriated 119 nationals rescued from illegal online‑scam compounds in Myanmar. The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs said the raids dismantled criminal syndicates operating sophisticated fraud hubs that recruited workers through false job offers. Authorities warned citizens to be cautious of fraudulent overseas employment opportunities amid rising risks from organized criminal groups.
In Ghana, the government has rejected the term “Detty December” to describe the festive season, citing its negative connotations. Diaspora affairs official Kofi Okyere‑Darko said the label should not be linked with the country, despite the season’s major economic benefits. Ghana has been promoting itself as a destination for people from the continent and the diaspora, launching initiatives such as the Year of Return in 2019.
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