The United Nations has issued a dire warning about an impending famine crisis across several regions, naming Sudan, Gaza, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali as the most at-risk countries. In a joint report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN called for urgent international action to avert a humanitarian catastrophe.
Sudan and Gaza Among the Worst-Hit Hunger Zones
Sudan is facing a rapidly worsening crisis, with over 25 million people now experiencing food insecurity. Civil conflict, economic breakdown, and blocked humanitarian aid are pushing several regions, especially in southern Khartoum, toward imminent famine conditions.
In Gaza, the situation is equally alarming. Nearly the entire population is suffering from acute food shortages, and more than 500,000 residents are at risk of falling into famine-level hunger by September. According to the WFP, the number of acutely malnourished children in Gaza has tripled in just three months.
In South Sudan, long-standing political instability, flooding, and disrupted agriculture have placed 7.7 million people at risk, with over 63,000 already living under famine-like conditions.
Haiti and Mali are grappling with escalating violence, inflation, and disrupted food systems, making it difficult for millions to access daily meals.
UN Calls for Emergency Funding and Humanitarian Access
WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain described the situation as a “red alert for humanity”, warning that humanitarian organizations are on the brink of collapse without immediate support. She emphasized the need for:
- Safe humanitarian corridors to deliver aid
- Significant financial support, particularly in Sudan, where $650 million is urgently required
- Sustainable farming solutions to support local food production amid crisis
Qu Dongyu, FAO Director-General, added that empowering farmers and maintaining agricultural activity is key to both short- and long-term food security in these hotspots.
The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food has gone a step further, calling for the deployment of peacekeeping forces to secure aid routes in conflict zones such as Sudan and Gaza. He warned that the global community risks slipping into a “dystopia” where it becomes too dangerous to deliver food or medical supplies.
The Bigger Picture: Global Hunger Reaches Record High
According to the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises, nearly 300 million people faced acute food insecurity in 2024; an all-time high. The combination of conflict, climate change, economic instability, and insufficient aid has created a perfect storm.
Without decisive global action, the UN warns that these hunger hotspots could turn into full-blown famines, claiming countless lives and destabilizing entire regions.
What Needs to Happen Next
- Immediate international funding for WFP and FAO operations
- Protected humanitarian corridors through peacekeeping efforts
- Strategic investments in agriculture and infrastructure
- Stronger climate resilience programs to protect food systems
Read Also: Cholera Outbreak in Angola Claims Nearly 600 Lives: Urgent Action Underway
