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Jun 17, 20261
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UN Warns of Worsening Food Crisis Across 13 Conflict-Affected Regions Through November 2026
The UN's FAO and WFP have warned that acute food insecurity will worsen in 13 regions through November 2026, affecting 266 million people. The crisis is driven by conflicts, climate shocks, and reduced humanitarian funding, which has declined by 59% since 2022.
Quick Facts
Who
Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
What
Joint warning issued about worsening food crisis
When
June to November 2026
Where
Sudan
- Joint warning issued about worsening food crisis
- Prediction of intensified acute food insecurity
- Identification of 13 conflict-affected regions at risk
- Documentation of 59% decline in food aid funding
- Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) have issued a joint warning that acute food insecurity will intensify across 13 conflict-affected regions from June through November 2026. The agencies report that approximately 266 million people currently face high levels of acute food insecurity, with the situation expected to deteriorate without immediate intervention.
The regions of greatest concern include Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Palestine, Nigeria, and Somalia, where conflict, climate shocks, and other destabilizing factors have created severe humanitarian challenges. The UN agencies identified multiple contributing factors to the worsening crisis, including ongoing regional conflicts, the Middle East conflict, the Ebola outbreak in Congo, and the El Niño weather phenomenon, which is likely to trigger droughts and flooding in vulnerable areas.
A critical obstacle to addressing the crisis is the dramatic decline in humanitarian funding. The FAO and WFP note that funding for food aid has dropped approximately 59% compared to 2022, despite mounting humanitarian needs. This funding gap threatens to leave millions of people facing increased hunger in the coming months. The agencies have emphasized that immediate action is essential to prevent further deterioration of food security conditions in these regions.
Why This Matters
This warning signals that without immediate, increased humanitarian funding, millions of people in conflict zones like Sudan, Yemen, and Palestine will face worsening hunger and potential famine. For donors, policymakers, and aid organizations, this is a call to urgently allocate resources to prevent a catastrophic food crisis over the next 18 months.
Timeline & Sources
Jan 1, 2022
WireBaseline year for humanitarian food aid funding comparison
Jun 12, 2026
WirePeriod during which acute food insecurity is expected to intensify in 13 regions