Overview
- The UN-backed Global Report on Food Crises, released Friday, found 266 million people in 47 countries faced acute hunger in 2025.
- Famine was confirmed in parts of Gaza and Sudan, with Gaza recording the highest share globally and 1.4 million people in Phase 5 conditions across six contexts.
- Conflict drove most acute hunger, affecting nearly 150 million people, and two-thirds of those in crisis were concentrated in 10 countries such as Afghanistan, DRC, Nigeria, Sudan and Yemen.
- Humanitarian food funding fell about 39% from 2024 levels and development aid dropped at least 15%, which the report says is curbing both lifesaving aid and long-term recovery work.
- Escalating war in the Middle East, including disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, risks pushing up energy and fertilizer costs and delaying shipments during key planting and harvest periods.