Acute food insecurity is expected to worsen further for millions by Global Network Against Food Crises 11:59am 18th Jun, 2026   17 June 2026    The Hunger Hotspots: FAO/WFP Early Warnings on Acute Food Insecurity report is a series of analytical products produced under the Global Network Against Food Crises initiative, to enhance and coordinate the generation and sharing of evidence-based information and analysis for preventing and addressing food crises.    New Hunger Hotspots report: June to November 2026: Highlights    The latest Hunger Hotspots 2026 report – jointly issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) – warns that acute food insecurity could deepen across 13 countries and territories over the outlook period of June to November 2026.    The report identifies the Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Palestine, Nigeria and Somalia as being at at the highest concern level, necessitating the most urgent attention, where populations already face or risk entering Catastrophe (IPC/CH Phase 5) conditions. Three contexts are classified as very high concern – Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Haiti. Myanmar, Mali, Lebanon and Madagascar are classified as hotspots.    Four hunger hotspots faced a risk of Famine at some point in 2026 or are expected to remain at risk during the outlook period: Sudan, South Sudan, the Gaza Strip, and Somalia.    Armed violence and conflict around the world, significant disruptions caused by the conflict in the Middle East, weather extremes and increasing climate variability, and an unprecedent decline in humanitarian funding are converging to drive starvation in the most concerning contexts.    FAO and WFP warn that the international community faces a narrowing window to prevent mass starvation and widespread deaths in the hotspots of highest concern.    Risk of Famine    Four hunger hotspots faced a risk of Famine in 2026, or are expected to remain at risk during the outlook period: Sudan, South Sudan, the Gaza Strip, and Somalia:    Sudan continues to face one of the world’s most acute food crises, with a risk of Famine identified in 14 areas though August 2026, due to conflict.    In South Sudan, there is a credible risk of Famine in Luakpiny/Nasir and Ulang, Akobo and Nyirol counties through July 2026 if there is a renewed escalation of conflict, further displacement, and reduced humanitarian access.    Somalia is facing critical levels of acute food insecurity and malnutrition due to drought, conflict, displacement and rising food prices, with Burhakaba District at risk of Famine.    In Palestine, the acute food insecurity situation has improved in the Gaza Strip since the October 2025 ceasefire, although it remains fragile amid a low-intensity continuation of the conflict. The entire Gaza Strip faced a risk of Famine through mid-April 2026 – though no projection was available covering the outlook period at the time of writing.    While no risk of Famine has been identified in Yemen and Nigeria, both countries had pockets of populations facing or expected to face catastrophic levels of food insecurity in 2026 or during the outlook period, requiring sustained humanitarian assistance and close monitoring.    Severe Funding Reductions    Funding for food, emergency agriculture, and nutrition assistance remains critically insufficient, threatening to deepen hunger and leave millions without life-saving support:    Humanitarian assistance to food sectors in crisis contexts plummeted in 2025, dropping by an estimated 59 percent since 2022.    Funding has fallen back to levels last seen in 2016–2017, while the share of the population analysed in high acute food insecurity has doubled since then.    This reflects major funding cuts in official development assistance, with further declines of 5.8 percent projected in 2026.    Cuts in humanitarian assistance to food sectors were highly concentrated in some of the most severe and largest food crises. In 2025, just five countries – Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Afghanistan and South Sudan – experienced 44 percent of the global reduction in humanitarian assistance to food sectors in crisis contexts worth USD 2 billion.    These same countries recorded a combined increase of approximately 6 million people in Crisis or worse (IPC/CH Phase 3 or above) in 2025, underscoring a troubling convergence between rising needs and declining resources.    Cuts to assessments, monitoring and analytical capacity are weakening the evidence base for food security monitoring, prioritization of assistance and operational decision-making, particularly in underfunded, high-risk contexts.    Weather Extremes and Climatic Shocks    Global climate conditions are expected to shift during the June–November 2026 outlook period, with El Nino conditions now present and expected to strengthen towards the end of the year. Current forecasts indicate a high likelihood of a strong event, increasing the likelihood of widespread climate anomalies and extreme weather events.    El Nino conditions are likely to significantly alter rainfall patterns and temperatures across several hotspots during the key stages of the agricultural season, adding to existing vulnerability.    Eastern Africa could see significant impacts during the outlook period. Somalia remains particularly exposed after consecutive poor rainy seasons severely affected agricultural and pastoral livelihoods, and the current rainy season started poorly, further worsening drought conditions, while El Niño may increase flood risks in the last quarter of 2026.    Parts of South Sudan may also face rainfall deficits and heat stress during the main agricultural season, potentially affecting crops and pasture.    In West Africa, Mali and Nigeria may experience delayed rainfall onset, prolonged dry spells, particularly across parts of western Sahel. At the same time, localized flooding may still occur in flood-prone areas of Nigeria during the peak of the rainy season, disrupting agricultural activities.    Latin America and the Caribbean are likely to be among the regions most affected during the outlook period, with below average rainfall and above average temperature forecast across the rainy seasons and thus severely negative impact on agricultural activities.    In Southern Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Madagascar remain exposed to climate shocks after an erratic rainy season marked by drought, floods and cyclones. Emerging El Niño conditions may further increase dryness risks during the second half of 2026, potentially affecting agricultural production and food availability.    Overall, whether or not directly linked to El Niño, climate extremes remain significant drivers of food insecurity across several hotspots.    http://www.fightfoodcrises.net/hunger-hotspots http://www.wfp.org/news/new-fao-wfp-report-warns-worsening-hunger-puts-13-hotspots-significant-risk http://www.fao.org/newsroom/detail/new-fao-wfp-report-warns-worsening-hunger-puts-13-hotspots-at-significant-risk/en http://www.fightfoodcrises.net/articles/wfp-and-fao-publish-analysis-potential-impacts-el-nino Visit the related web page
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