GENEVA
Hunger is set to worsen in 13 countries and territories over the coming months, with five facing an immediate risk of starvation, according to a new Hunger Hotspots report released Monday by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
The agencies warned that people in Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali face “extreme hunger and risk of starvation and death in the coming months unless there is urgent humanitarian action.”
“These are communities already facing famine, at risk of famine or confronted with catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity,” the report said, citing escalating conflict, economic shocks, and natural disasters as key drivers, compounded by access constraints and funding shortfalls.
“This report makes it very clear: hunger today is not a distant threat – it is a daily emergency for millions,” said FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu. “We must act now, and act together, to save lives and safeguard livelihoods.”
WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain, for her part, warned: “This report is a red alert. We know where hunger is rising and we know who is at risk. We have the tools and experience to respond, but without funding and access, we cannot save lives.”
The report also highlighted worsening conditions in Gaza, where the entire population of 2.1 million faces crisis or worse levels of food insecurity, and in Sudan, where 637,000 people are facing catastrophic hunger.
In addition to the five worst-hit countries, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, and Nigeria are flagged as hotspots of very high concern, according to the report. Others include Burkina Faso, Chad, Somalia, and Syria.
“Preemptive interventions save lives, reduce food gaps, and protect assets and livelihoods,” the report stressed.
