Published on: 2026-04-24
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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Hunger is concentrated in a small group of countries affected by war and instability, according to a new report prepared by UN agencies, the European Union, and its partners. Two-thirds of the people facing acute food insecurity live in just 10 countries.
According to the report, in 2025, 266 million people in 47 countries (almost a quarter of the population) experienced an acute food deficit. This is almost twice as many as in 2016.
The authors of the document depict a troubling picture: hunger has ceased to be a series of short-term emergencies and has turned into a permanent, localized global problem.
“Today, the acute food crisis is not only a large-scale but also a chronic, constantly emerging phenomenon,” warned the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), Qu Dongyu.
Conflicts are the main cause of hunger
Armed conflicts remain the main cause of the crisis: in more than half of all cases of severe hunger.
Two-thirds of people suffering from catastrophic food insecurity live in 10 countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.
By 2025, the situation reached a critical point in the Gaza Strip and some areas of Sudan, where mass starvation was officially confirmed. This is the first case in the history of observations when two centers of mass starvation were recorded within one year.
“This report is a call to action,” noted the UN Secretary-General in the preface to the reportAntónio Guterres. – We must show political will to sharply increase investment in aid and to put an end to conflicts that bring so much suffering to people.
The report also emphasizes that the situation has sharply worsened in recent years. More than 39 million people in 32 countries have faced an extraordinary level of food insecurity, and the number of people living in conditions of catastrophic hunger has increased ninefold since 2016.
Hunger poses a special danger to children
It is most difficult for children. In 2025, 35.5 million children suffered from acute undernutrition, and nearly 10 million of them experienced its most severe form. This condition directly threatens lives and sharply increases the risk of mortality.
“Children with severe wasting critically lose weight. And the immune system is so weakened that even ordinary childhood illnesses can become fatal,” warned UNISEF representative Ricardo Pires.
In the areas most affected by hunger – in Gaza, Myanmar, South Sudan, and Sudan – a combination of factors such as armed conflict, epidemics, and limited access to medical care is leading to an unprecedented increase in indicators of malnutrition and mortality.
Forced displacement of the population exacerbates the situation
The scale of the crisis is increasing due to mass migration. Last year, there were more than 85 million displaced persons in food crisis zones. Refugees and internally displaced persons are systematically experiencing acute hunger.
“Forced displacement and the lack of food security are inseparably linked and create a vicious cycle,” said the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, emphasizing that humanitarian aid alone is not sufficient to solve the problem.
Funding reduction
Despite the scale of the disaster, funding for aid programs is decreasing. The amount of funds allocated for food aid has fallen to levels not seen for decades, which ties the hands of governments and humanitarian organizations.
Parallel to this, the so-called data deficit is growing. The number of countries capable of providing reliable reports on food security has fallen to a minimum over 10 years. This means that the real scale of hunger could be significantly higher than official estimates.
Gloomy forecasts for 2026
Perspectives for 2026 remain bleak. It is expected that due to protracted conflicts, extreme weather events, and economic instability, a critical food shortage will be observed worldwide.
Experts also point to new problems associated with shocks in the global market, caused by the situation in the Middle East. The crisis could lead to a further increase in food prices and disruptions in the supply chain.
Humanitarian organizations warn: without a shift in the course, the crisis will worsen.
“We must move from a model of delayed response to proactive actions. It is necessary not just to distribute food, but to protect local agricultural production. This way, the need for aid can be reduced, people’s lives saved, and a stable system created for the future,” concluded Qiu Duny.
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