Overview
- The 2026 Global Report on Food Crises, released Friday, found 266 million people in 47 countries faced acute food insecurity in 2025, nearly double the share recorded in 2016.
- The report confirmed famine in parts of Gaza and Sudan and counted 1.4 million people in IPC Phase 5, the stage that signals catastrophic hunger with extreme risk of starvation and death.
- It also found 35.5 million children were acutely malnourished in 2025, including nearly 10 million with severe acute malnutrition, a life‑threatening condition.
- Conflict remained the primary driver, affecting roughly 147 million people, with two‑thirds of those in crisis concentrated in ten countries including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the DRC, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
- Funding for food responses fell back to 2016–2017 levels in 2025, with humanitarian support down about 39% and development aid down at least 15%, constraining relief as Middle East disruptions threaten higher fuel and fertiliser costs.