Without a swift and extensive humanitarian response, populations in these five critical hotspots face extreme hunger, with a looming risk of famine and widespread fatalities in the coming months. This dire assessment comes from a joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

Cindy McCain, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “This report is a red alert. We know where hunger is increasing and who is at risk.”

These devastating crises are further compounded by escalating access restrictions and severe funding shortfalls.

Gaza and Sudan: critical hunger hotspots

In Sudan, famine conditions have been confirmed since 2024 and are projected to persist due to ongoing conflict and widespread population displacement, particularly in the Grand Kordofan and Grand Darfur regions. Approximately 24.6 million people are expected to face crisis levels or worse of acute food insecurity, with 637,000 individuals projected to experience catastrophic levels by May 2025.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, the likelihood of famine is rapidly escalating. Extensive military operations severely impede the delivery of essential humanitarian aid, including vital food and non-food supplies. The entire population of the Palestinian enclave, estimated at 2.1 million people, is anticipated to confront crisis levels or worse of acute food insecurity, with 470,000 individuals facing catastrophic conditions by September 2025.

Catastrophic levels in Haiti

South Sudan faces a grim outlook, with confirmed famine risks in two of its regions. Around 7.7 million people, representing 57% of the nation’s population, are expected to endure high levels of acute food insecurity between April and July 2025. Among these, 63,000 people are projected to experience catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity.

Haiti is grappling with unprecedented levels of gang violence and insecurity, leading to mass displacement and crippling access to humanitarian assistance. Over 8,400 internally displaced persons in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince are already confronting catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity by June 2025.

Concerns in Mali

In Mali, high cereal prices and persistent conflict are eroding the coping mechanisms of the most vulnerable households, especially within conflict-affected zones. Approximately 2,600 individuals risk catastrophic food insecurity between June and August 2025 if timely aid is not provided.

Beyond these most critical hotspots, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, and Nigeria are also identified as highly concerning areas that require urgent attention to save lives and livelihoods. Additional hotspots include Burkina Faso, Chad, Somalia, and Syria.

Qu Dongyu, the Director-General of the FAO, underscored the immediate nature of the challenge: “This report clearly shows that hunger today is not a distant threat – it is a daily emergency for millions of people.”

He urged, “We must act now, and act together, to save lives and preserve livelihoods.”

Progress despite budget cuts

In a more positive development, several nations have been removed from the list of hunger hotspots, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

This improvement is attributed to better climatic conditions for harvests and a reduction in extreme weather events across East and Southern Africa, as well as Niger. Lebanon’s removal from the list follows a decrease in the intensity of military operations.

However, the overall worsening of food insecurity in numerous global regions coincides with severe funding deficits, which are forcing reductions in food rations and limiting the scope of crucial nutrition and agricultural interventions.

Ms. McCain reiterated the urgency: “We have the tools and experience to respond, but without funding and access, we cannot save lives. Urgent and sustained investment in food aid and recovery support is critical, as the window to avert further devastating famine is rapidly closing.”