A new report by two leading United Nations food agencies has sounded an urgent alarm over a rapidly deepening hunger crisis affecting millions of people across the world. According to the joint assessment released by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), acute food insecurity is expected to worsen significantly in 16 countries and territories between now and May 2026.
The report highlights six locations facing the gravest threat of famine or near-famine conditions: Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Mali, Haiti, and Yemen. In several of these areas, communities are projected to slip into catastrophic levels of hunger unless immediate action is taken.
The situation is particularly dire in conflict-affected regions, where households already struggling with displacement, economic collapse, and limited humanitarian access are being pushed to the brink. The agencies warn that without urgent support, famine conditions could unfold in multiple areas simultaneously.
Beyond the six highest-risk locations, the report identifies several countries facing very high concern, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Myanmar, Somalia, Syria, and Afghanistan. These nations continue to grapple with long-running crises that have severely weakened local food systems and left millions dependent on humanitarian assistance.
The analysis also draws attention to additional hunger hotspots such as Burkina Faso, Chad, Kenya, and the plight of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. In these regions, ongoing conflict, climate shocks, and soaring food prices are sharpening food insecurity at a troubling pace.
Acute food insecurity, as defined by the report, means families are unable to meet basic food needs and often resort to extreme survival measures such as skipping meals, reducing food portions, or selling vital belongings to buy food. The most critical conditions classified as Phase 4 (Emergency) and Phase 5 (Catastrophe or Famine) represent a life-threatening stage where starvation becomes imminent.
Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the WFP, stressed that despite the worsening situation, famine does not have to become a reality. “Famine is not inevitable,” she said, underscoring that the international community possesses both the technical expertise and the tools needed to avert disaster. “What we need are resources and the political will to act now.”
The FAO and WFP argue that early intervention is essential. Increased humanitarian funding, safe access for aid workers, strengthened agricultural support, and conflict resolution efforts are crucial to preventing further deterioration.
As global conflicts intensify and climate-related disasters become more frequent, both agencies warn that time is running out. Without decisive global action, millions of people across these 16 hotspots could face one of the worst hunger emergencies in decades.
