Without a substantial and immediate humanitarian response, communities in these five highly vulnerable areas face extreme hunger, famine, and potential fatalities in the coming months, according to a joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

“This report serves as a stark red alert. We have a clear understanding of where hunger is escalating and who is most at risk,” stated Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme.

Devastating crises in these regions are intensified by growing restrictions on access for aid and severe funding shortfalls.

Gaza and Sudan: Urgent Food Insecurity Concerns

In Sudan, famine has been a confirmed reality since 2024. The United Nations anticipates this dire situation will persist due to ongoing conflict and widespread population displacement, particularly impacting the Greater Kordofan and Greater Darfur regions. An estimated 24.6 million people are projected to face crisis-level or worse acute food insecurity, with 637,000 experiencing catastrophic conditions by May 2025.

For Gaza, the risk of famine is escalating rapidly as large-scale military operations severely impede the delivery of crucial humanitarian aid, including food and other essential supplies. The entire population of the Palestinian enclave, totaling 2.1 million people, is expected to confront crisis-level or worse acute food insecurity, with 470,000 individuals projected to face catastrophic levels by September 2025.

Catastrophic Levels in Haiti

South Sudan faces a grim outlook, with confirmed famine risks in two of its regions. Approximately 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 individuals are anticipated to reach catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity.

Haiti is grappling with record levels of gang violence and pervasive insecurity, leading to community displacement and paralyzing humanitarian access. Over 8,400 internally displaced persons in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince are already experiencing catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity, a situation projected to worsen by June 2025.

Concerns Mount in Mali

Meanwhile, in Mali, soaring cereal prices and persistent conflict are eroding the resilience of the most vulnerable households, particularly within conflict-affected zones. Around 2,600 people are at risk of catastrophic food insecurity between June and August 2025 if timely aid is not provided.

Beyond these immediate critical hotspots, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, and Nigeria are also designated as highly concerning areas requiring urgent attention to save lives and livelihoods. Other significant hotspots include Burkina Faso, Chad, Somalia, and Syria.

“This report unequivocally demonstrates that hunger today is not a distant threat—it is a daily emergency for millions,” emphasized Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the FAO. “We must act decisively now, and in concert, to preserve lives and protect livelihoods.”

Progress Amidst Funding Cuts

In a more positive development, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have been removed from the list of hunger hotspots. This progress is largely attributed to improved climatic conditions for harvests and a reduction in extreme weather events across East and Southern Africa, as well as in Niger. Lebanon’s removal follows a decrease in the intensity of military operations.

However, the overall worsening of food insecurity in numerous global regions occurs against a backdrop of severe funding deficits, which compel reductions in food rations and constrain the reach of essential nutrition and agricultural interventions.

“We possess the necessary tools and expertise to respond effectively, yet without adequate funding and unhindered access, our ability to save lives is severely limited. Urgent and sustained investment in food aid and recovery support is paramount, as the window to avert another devastating famine is rapidly closing,” emphasized Ms. McCain.