Key facts
- Extreme hunger has intensified in 13 "hunger hotspots" globally.
A joint UN report highlights intensified extreme hunger in 13 "hunger hotspots," with Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, Northeast Nigeria, and Gaza facing immediate famine risk without urgent intervention. Conflict is the primary driver, exacerbated by funding cuts.
The report highlights a severe and escalating global hunger crisis, with millions facing acute food insecurity and several regions on the brink of famine. The findings underscore the urgent need for increased humanitarian aid and intervention to prevent widespread starvation and its devastating consequences.
A joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that extreme hunger has intensified in 13 "hunger hotspots" worldwide. Six of these locations—Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, Northeast Nigeria, and Gaza—are at immediate risk of famine if urgent humanitarian intervention is not provided.
The report indicates that acute food insecurity could worsen in these critical areas between June and November 2026, with conflict being the primary driver in nearly all cases. Funding cuts have significantly exacerbated the crisis, leading to a roughly 59% decrease in support for food and agricultural assistance between 2022 and 2025. Consequently, approximately 266 million people are currently facing acute food insecurity.
WFP Acting Executive Director Carl Skau emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "The warnings in this report cannot be ignored." The report also notes that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East and an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have further disrupted livelihoods, markets, and access for humanitarian aid.
FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol urged for early and scaled-up action to prevent further deterioration. In Gaza, despite fragile improvements since an October 2025 ceasefire, conditions remain precarious, with 1.6 million people acutely food insecure. Famine risks persist in Sudan, with projections indicating a rise in catastrophic hunger in 2026. Somalia and Northeast Nigeria are experiencing rapid deterioration due to prolonged drought, conflict, and displacement, increasing famine risks in specific regions.