FAO & WFP early warning report reveals worsening hunger in 13 hotspots; five with immediate risk of starvation | FAO News

Joint FAO-WFP News Release 

Rome – A new joint UN report warns that people in five hunger hotspots around the world face extreme hunger & risk of starvation & death in the coming months unless there is urgent humanitarian action & a coordinated international effort to de-escalate conflict, stem displacement, & mount an urgent full-scale aid response. 

The latest Hunger Hotspots report shows that Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Haiti & Mali are hotspots of highest concern, with communities already facing famine, at risk of famine or confronted with catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity due to intensifying or persisting conflict, economic shocks, & natural hazards. The devastating crises are being exacerbated by growing access constraints & critical funding shortfalls.

The semi-annual Hunger Hotspots report is an early-warning & predictive analysis of deteriorating food crises for the next five months. Developed & published with financial support from the European Union through the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC), the latest edition projects a serious deterioration of acute food insecurity in 13 countries & territories – the world’s most critical hunger hotspots in the coming months. 

In addition to hotspots of highest concern, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar & Nigeria are now hotspots of very high concern & require urgent attention to save lives & livelihoods. Other hotspots include Burkina Faso, Chad, Somalia, & Syria.  

“This report makes it very clear: hunger today is not a distant threat – it is a daily emergency for millions,” FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said. “We must act now, & act together, to save lives & safeguard livelihoods. Protecting people’s farms & animals to ensure they can keep producing food where they are, even in the toughest & harshest conditions, is not just urgent – it is essential.” 

“This report is a red alert. We know where hunger is rising & we know who is at risk,” said Cindy McCain, World Food Programme Executive Director. “We have the tools & experience to respond, but without funding & access, we cannot save lives. Urgent, sustained investment in food assistance & recovery support is crucial as the window to avert yet more devastating hunger is closing fast.” 

Hotspots of highest concern

In Sudan, Famine was confirmed in 2024. Conditions are expected to persist due to the continuing conflict & ongoing displacement, particularly in the Greater Kordofan & Greater Darfur regions. Displacement is likely to increase further during the outlook period while humanitarian access remains restricted. The circumstances are driving the country towards the risk of partial economic collapse, with high inflation severely limiting food access.  Around 24.6 million people were projected to face Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above) levels of acute food insecurity, including 637,000 people facing Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) through May 2025.[1] 

In Palestine, the likelihood of famine in the Gaza Strip is growing as large-scale military operations hinder the ability to deliver vital food & non-food humanitarian assistance. In addition to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Gaza Strip, high food prices coupled with exhausted livelihoods & a commercial blockade will accelerate an economic collapse. The entire population in Gaza – 2.1 million people – is projected to face Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above) levels of acute food insecurity, with 470,000 projected to face Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) through September 2025. 

South Sudan faces compounding threats from political tensions, the risk of flooding, & economic challenges. Approximately 7.7 million people – or 57 percent of the population – are projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) between April & July 2025, with 63,000 people projected to face Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) levels of acute food insecurity. An IPC update released after the report’s finalization indicated Risk of Famine in two areas of the country & confirmed the bleak outlook. 

In Haiti, record levels of gang violence & insecurity are displacing communities & crippling aid access. Over 8,400 internally displaced persons (IDPs) already facing Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) levels of acute food insecurity in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area by June 2025. 

Meanwhile, in Mali, high grain prices & ongoing conflict are eroding the coping capacities of the most vulnerable households, particularly in conflict-affected areas. Around 2 600 people are at risk of Catastrophe (CH Phase 5) from June to August 2025 if assistance is not provided on time. 

Additional hotspots & areas of improvement

In Myanmar, the impact of the recent major earthquake is likely to worsen the already dire food insecurity situation in the country, driven by escalating conflict, widespread displacement, severe access restrictions & high food prices. 

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been reintroduced to the hotspot list due to intensifying conflict.

In contrast, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Zambia, & Zimbabwe have been removed from the Hunger Hotspots list. In East & Southern Africa, as well as in Niger, better climatic conditions for harvests & fewer weather extremes have eased food security pressures. Lebanon has also been delisted following reduced intensity of military operations. However, FAO & WFP warn that these gains remain fragile & could reverse quickly if shocks re-emerge. 

A call for global solidarity

In multiple hotspots, aid delivery is significantly hampered by restricted humanitarian access due to insecurity, bureaucratic impediments, or physical isolation. At the same time, critical funding shortfalls are forcing reductions in food rations, limiting the reach of life-saving nutrition & agricultural interventions. 

The Hunger Hotspots report highlights the importance of continued investments in early humanitarian action. Pre-emptive interventions save lives, reduce food gaps, & protect assets & livelihoods at a significantly lower cost than delayed humanitarian action. 

[1] The Government of Sudan did not endorse the December 2024 IPC analysis.

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Download the Hunger Hotspots Report here

More information about the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification scales 

Note to Editors

The Hunger Hotspots report is part of a US & EU funded suite of analytical products produced under the Global Network Against Food Crises, to enhance & coordinate the generation & sharing of evidence-based information & analysis for preventing & addressing food crises.  

This series also includes the recently published 2025 Global Report on Food Crises, which retroactively looks at the levels of acute food insecurity in 2024, in complement to the Hunger Hotspots which is a forward-looking early warning system that provides decision makers with information for planning & resource allocation.