A new ‘Hunger Hotspots’ report released on Wednesday by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) has identified 13 countries and regions expected to see a rise in food insecurity between June and November 2026. The report highlights Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, and Palestine as continuing critical hotspots, with concerns escalating in Nigeria and Somalia, pushing these nations into the highest risk category.
Conflict Fuels Widespread Hunger
Conflict remains the primary driver of hunger, impacting 12 out of the 13 identified hotspots. “Conflict, shocks, and disasters are forcing families to make impossible decisions about who to feed and who goes to bed hungry,” stated Carl Skau, WFP Deputy Executive Director. These critical situations are exacerbated by declining humanitarian funding, with aid for food assistance, emergency agriculture, and nutrition support in crisis regions decreasing by approximately 59% between 2022 and 2025, reaching near decade-low levels. Simultaneously, an estimated 266 million people in these countries face severe food insecurity.
Urgent Action Needed Amidst Funding Shortfalls
“The challenge is whether we can act early enough and at the scale required,” said Beth Bechdol, FAO Deputy Director-General. FAO emphasizes that emergency agricultural support is among the most effective ways to help families continue food production and reduce their reliance on aid. The report details the most severe crises, with Sudan continuing to face the world’s worst hunger crisis, where famine-like conditions are projected to persist in parts of Darfur and South Kordofan into early 2027. Earlier this year, approximately 20 million people faced crisis levels of hunger or worse in Sudan. Yemen is experiencing one of the most severe hunger crises globally, with projections indicating over 18 million people could face severe food shortages. In Palestine, while conditions in Gaza remain fragile despite some improvements following a ceasefire in October 2025, over 1.6 million people were previously assessed as needing urgent food assistance.
Escalating Risks in Nigeria and Somalia
Nigeria has entered the highest risk category following projections that parts of Borno State could face devastating famine. Somalia has also been elevated due to drought, conflict, and poor harvests, with famine risks identified in the Burhakaba Region. The report warns that new crises could further deteriorate conditions. Jean-Martin Bauer, Director of WFP’s Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Service, noted, “Economic shocks are increasing food insecurity, and climate change and climate variability are further exacerbating the situation.” Conflicts in the Middle East and the recent Ebola outbreak in eastern the Democratic Republic of Congo could further disrupt markets and humanitarian access. Climate risks are also rising, with the El Niño phenomenon likely to bring drought and floods to already vulnerable areas.
Call for Increased Support
FAO and WFP have urged governments and donors to increase support now to prevent a further deterioration of the situation. “As of June 2026, only about one-third of the identified high-priority needs for global food security funding and activities have been met, leading to extremely difficult choices,” stated Rein Paulsen, Director of FAO’s Office of Emergencies and Resilience, during a briefing at UN Headquarters. The agencies stressed that early action saves both lives and resources, warning that without stronger political commitment and more predictable financing, hunger is likely to deepen in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.
