The United Nations' two food agencies warned on Wednesday of worsening acute hunger in 13 hotspots around the world over the coming months, as conflicts, funding shortfalls, and climate shocks push millions to the brink of famine.
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme said in a new joint report that conditions are expected to deteriorate between June and November 2026, with around 266 million people already facing high levels of acute food insecurity. They called for urgent action.
The report said that Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, and Palestine remain the countries of greatest concern, while Nigeria and Somalia have recently been added to this category as conditions worsen and famine risks increase.
The two agencies said conflicts and violence are the primary drivers of hunger in almost all hotspots, compounded by economic shocks, sharp cuts to humanitarian aid funding, and the anticipated impact of the El Niño climate phenomenon, which can trigger droughts and floods in vulnerable areas.
The report said funding for food assistance and related programmes had fallen sharply — by around 59% since 2022 — even as needs continue to grow.
Carl Skau, Executive Director of the World Food Programme, said: "The warnings in this report cannot be ignored. Without action now, millions more are expected to face escalating levels of hunger in the months ahead, pushing some closer to famine."