Without a swift and extensive humanitarian aid response, populations in these five critical flashpoints face extreme hunger, with a looming threat of famine and widespread mortality in the coming months. This stark warning comes from a joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

Cindy McCain, the Executive Director of the World Food Programme, underscored the gravity of the situation, stating, “This report serves as a red alert. We possess clear data on where hunger is escalating and which communities are most vulnerable.”

These devastating crises are compounded by escalating restrictions on aid access and severe funding shortfalls, making effective intervention increasingly challenging. 

Gaza and Sudan: escalating food crises

In Sudan, famine conditions have been confirmed since 2024 and are projected to persist due to ongoing conflict and mass displacement, particularly in the Grand Kordofan and Grand Darfur regions. Approximately 24.6 million individuals are expected to face crisis levels or worse of acute food insecurity, with 637,000 people projected to experience catastrophic levels by May 2025.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, the likelihood of famine is rapidly increasing. Large-scale military operations severely impede the delivery of essential humanitarian aid, including vital food and non-food items. The entire population of the Palestinian enclave, estimated at 2.1 million people, is anticipated to confront crisis levels or worse of acute food insecurity, with 470,000 individuals expected to reach catastrophic conditions by September 2025.

Catastrophic levels in Haiti and South Sudan

South Sudan faces a grim outlook, with famine risk confirmed in two of its regions. Around 7.7 million people, representing 57% of the nation’s population, are predicted to endure high levels of acute food insecurity between April and July 2025. Among these, 63,000 individuals are anticipated to reach catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity.

Haiti is grappling with record levels of gang violence and pervasive insecurity, which are displacing communities and severely disrupting aid access. Over 8,400 internally displaced persons in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince are already contending with catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity, a situation expected to worsen by June 2025.

Serious concerns in Mali

In Mali, soaring cereal prices and persistent conflict are eroding the resilience of the most vulnerable households, particularly within conflict-affected zones. An estimated 2,600 people are at risk of catastrophic food insecurity between June and August 2025 if timely assistance is not provided.

Beyond these immediate critical hotspots, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, and Nigeria are also identified as highly concerning areas requiring urgent attention to preserve lives and livelihoods. Additional hotspots include Burkina Faso, Chad, Somalia, and Syria.

“This report unequivocally demonstrates that hunger today is not a distant threat—it is a daily emergency for millions worldwide,” emphasized Qu Dongyu, the Director-General of the FAO. 

“We must act decisively now, and in unison, to save lives and safeguard livelihoods.”

Progress amid funding challenges

Conversely, some regions have seen improvements: Ethiopia, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have been removed from the list of hunger hotspots. This progress is attributed to factors such as improved climatic conditions for harvests and a reduction in extreme weather events across East and Southern Africa, as well as Niger. Lebanon’s removal follows a decrease in the intensity of military operations.

Despite these pockets of progress, the overall deterioration of food security in many global regions is occurring at a time when severe funding deficits are compelling organizations to reduce food rations. This limitation significantly curtails the reach of vital nutrition and agricultural interventions.

“We possess the necessary tools and expertise to respond effectively, but without adequate funding and unimpeded access, our ability to save lives is severely hampered. Urgent and sustained investment in both food aid and recovery support is paramount, as the window of opportunity to prevent another devastating famine is rapidly closing,” Ms. McCain emphasized once more.