According to a new United Nations (UN) report, acute food insecurity is expected to increase in both scale and severity in 22 countries and territories. The report warns that escalating conflicts, particularly in the Middle East – along with climate and economic stressors – are pushing millions of people to the brink, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced yesterday.
The report highlights the regional impact of the crisis in Gaza, which has led to conflict in Lebanon, and warns that the La Nina weather pattern could affect climate until March 2025, threatening fragile food systems in already vulnerable regions.
The report draws attention to hunger in Zamzam camp in North Darfur and the risk of famine in other areas of Sudan, the ongoing risk of famine in Palestine (Gaza Strip), and catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity in Haiti, Mali, and South Sudan. It warns that, without urgent humanitarian action and coordinated efforts to overcome severe access constraints and address ongoing conflicts, further starvation and death are likely.
The report – “Hunger Hotspots: FAO/WFP Early Warnings on Acute Food Insecurity” – released yesterday by the UN FAO and the UN World Food Programme (WFP), calls for urgent humanitarian action to save lives and livelihoods and prevent famine and death in hotspots at high risk of worsening acute hunger between November 2024 and May 2025.
A total of 22 countries/territories are classified as “hunger hotspots,” where high levels of acute food insecurity are expected to worsen due to a combination of conflict, economic instability, and climate shocks during the forecast period. Without urgent intervention, including increased funding for food and livelihood assistance, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to face famine in the coming months.
“The situation in five hunger hotspots of greatest concern is catastrophic. People are experiencing extreme food shortages and facing unprecedented prolonged hunger fueled by escalating conflicts, climate crises, and economic shocks. If we are to save lives and prevent acute hunger and malnutrition, we urgently need a humanitarian ceasefire and to restore access and availability of highly nutritious food, including reviving local food production. But this alone is not enough; we need long-term stability and food security. Peace is a prerequisite for food security. Without peace and stability, farmers cannot grow food, harvest, or sustain their livelihoods. Access to nutritious food is not just a basic need – it is a fundamental human right,” said FAO Director-General QU Dongyu.
“Across the world, conflicts are escalating, economic instability is increasing, and climate disasters are becoming the new norm. With more effective political and financial support, humanitarians can and will continue to implement proven and scalable solutions to address hunger and reduce needs in the long term,” said Cindy McCain, WFP Executive Director.
“It’s time for global leaders to work with us to reach the millions at risk of starvation – providing diplomatic solutions for conflicts, using their influence to enable humanitarians to work safely, and mobilizing the resources and partnerships needed to halt global hunger in its tracks,” McCain added.
The La Nina weather pattern, expected to affect the global climate from November 2024 through March 2025, is likely to worsen some food crises. While certain areas might benefit from improved agricultural conditions, La Nina is expected to bring devastating floods to countries like Nigeria and South Sudan, while potentially contributing to drought conditions in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia. These extreme weather events threaten already fragile food systems, placing millions at risk of hunger.
The report emphasizes that early, targeted action is crucial to prevent further worsening of the crisis and to avert mass mortality caused by hunger. FAO and WFP call on global leaders to prioritize conflict resolution, economic support, and climate adaptation measures to protect the most vulnerable populations from the brink of starvation.
