Emerging
Jun 17, 2026 Major2
90%
UN Warns Acute Hunger Will Worsen in 13 Global Hotspots as Famine Risks Rise
The UN's FAO and WFP warned that acute hunger will worsen in 13 global hotspots between June and November 2026, with 266 million people already facing food insecurity driven by conflict, funding shortages, and climate shocks. Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, and Gaza remain most critical, while Nigeria and Somalia were newly added to the list. Humanitarian funding has dropped 59 percent since 2022, though the U.S. pledged $800 million to the WFP.
Quick Facts
Who
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
What
Joint report warning of worsening acute hunger
When
June to November 2026
Where
Sudan
- Joint report warning of worsening acute hunger
- 13 global hotspots identified as critical
- United States pledged $800 million to WFP
- United States announced $218 million to UNICEF
- Ceasefire in Gaza Strip since October 2025
The United Nations' food agencies warned on Wednesday that acute hunger is set to worsen across 13 global hotspots in the coming months, with around 266 million people already facing high levels of acute food insecurity. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP) released a joint report indicating that conditions are expected to deteriorate between June and November 2026, driven primarily by conflict and violence, compounded by economic shocks, deep cuts to humanitarian funding, and the anticipated impact of an El Niño weather pattern that could bring droughts and floods to vulnerable regions.
Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, and the Gaza Strip remain the hotspots of greatest concern, while Nigeria and Somalia were newly added to the list as conditions worsen and famine risks rise. Seven other countries also appear on the critical list: Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Haiti, Mali, Lebanon, and Madagascar. Additional pressures, including spillover effects from the Middle East conflict and an Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo, are worsening the outlook by disrupting markets, livelihoods, and aid access. WFP Acting Executive Director Carl Skau emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that without immediate action, millions more would face worsening hunger levels in the months ahead.
Humanitarian funding has declined sharply, dropping approximately 59 percent since 2022 even as needs have surged dramatically. The WFP's appeal for more than $10 billion for 2026 remains severely underfunded. However, there was a modest positive development when the United States pledged $800 million to the WFP on Tuesday, which the agency said would help more than 38 million people in at least 37 countries. The U.S. also announced $218 million in assistance to UNICEF, though this came after the Trump administration's previous abolition of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), which had cut $60 billion in overall humanitarian assistance before being partially restored in December.
Regional assessments reveal varying levels of crisis. In the Gaza Strip, conditions have improved since an October 2025 ceasefire but remain fragile, with approximately 1.6 million people—roughly 77 percent of the analyzed population—facing acute food insecurity earlier this year, including more than half a million at emergency levels. Yemen continues to host one of the world's worst food security crises, with the largest population facing emergency or catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Specific regions face imminent famine threats, including Nigeria's Borno state, Somalia's Burhakaba district, South Sudan's Jonglei and Upper Nile states, and multiple regions in Sudan including North Darfur, South Darfur, and South Kordofan.
The FAO and WFP called for swift, coordinated international action to scale up aid, protect livelihoods, and prevent further deterioration. The agencies warned that without immediate intervention, millions more could face catastrophic hunger in the months ahead, emphasizing that the warnings in the report cannot be ignored.
Why This Matters
This warning directly affects global food security and humanitarian response priorities. For readers and organizations working in development, food security, or international affairs, understanding these 13 hotspots is critical for resource allocation and advocacy. The 59% funding decline since 2022 creates actionable urgency for donor countries and NGOs to increase contributions. The U.S. pledges signal potential shifts in humanitarian support trajectories, while the specific regional assessments help stakeholders identify where intervention is most critical before conditions reach catastrophic levels.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 2022
WireHumanitarian funding began declining sharply; baseline year for 59% funding reduction calculation
Jun 12, 2026
WireExpected timeframe for deteriorating food security conditions across hotspots
Jun 17, 2026
WireFAO and WFP released joint report warning of worsening acute hunger in 13 global hotspots