Rome, June 18: The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have issued a warning about severe food shortages in various regions worldwide. They predict that between June and November 2026, millions of people in 13 countries identified as “hunger hotspots” will face worsening food insecurity.
The latest edition of the Hunger Hotspots report, released biannually through the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC), identifies Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, and Palestine as the most critical hunger hotspots globally.
Nigeria has also been flagged as a major concern. It is estimated that certain areas in Borno State may soon experience catastrophic food insecurity, leading to hunger, death, extreme poverty, and severe malnutrition.
Somalia is similarly affected, with the population in the Burhakaba district facing a serious threat of famine.
Conflict and violence in these regions are the primary drivers of severe food shortages, impacting 12 of the 13 hotspots. These pressures are exacerbated by economic shocks, significant funding shortfalls, and the anticipated risks associated with the El Niño phenomenon, which is expected to bring uneven rainfall, drought, and flooding to already vulnerable countries.
Between 2022 and 2025, funding for food assistance, emergency agricultural support, and nutritional relief in crisis areas has plummeted by nearly 59%. This decline has brought financial aid levels back to nearly a decade-old status. As a result, the number of people facing severe food insecurity in affected countries has surged to approximately 266 million.
The report also warns that such conditions are further complicating the lives of millions. Recent events, including ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Ebola outbreaks in certain regions of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), pose additional challenges. These situations threaten livelihoods, market functionality, and access to humanitarian aid.
Countries in the extreme category of “hunger hotspots” include Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Nigeria, Somalia, and Palestine. Meanwhile, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Haiti fall into the severe category. Additionally, Myanmar, Mali, and Madagascar are also at risk of becoming hunger hotspots.
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