Extreme hunger has worsened in 13 “critical hunger zones,” with Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Somalia, northeastern Nigeria, and Gaza facing an immediate risk of widespread famine without urgent humanitarian intervention, a joint report by the United Nations (UN) warned on Wednesday (17).
The document was prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP).
The report warns that acute food insecurity could worsen in the areas of greatest concern between June and November 2026, with conflict being the primary cause in almost all cases.
Cuts in humanitarian funding have further exacerbated the crisis. Support for food and agricultural assistance fell by about 59% between 2022 and 2025, while approximately 266 million people face acute food insecurity.
“The warnings presented in this report cannot be ignored,” said Carl Skau, acting executive director of the WFP.
The conflict in the Middle East and an Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo have further affected livelihoods, markets, and access to humanitarian aid.
FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol called for early and larger-scale action to prevent the situation from deteriorating.
In Gaza, conditions have improved since the October 2025 ceasefire, but remain fragile, with 1.6 million people facing acute food insecurity.
In Sudan, the risk of famine persists in several regions, and the number of people facing catastrophic hunger is expected to rise in 2026.
Somalia and northeastern Nigeria are experiencing a rapid deterioration of the situation, as years of drought, conflict, and displacement increase the risk of famine in certain areas.
Source: Reuters
