By Patricia Jang
Two United Nations food agencies have raised alarm over a looming global hunger emergency, warning that millions more people could face famine as funding shortages deepen existing crises in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions.
In a joint report released on Wednesday, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) said conflict, violence, and economic collapse remain the primary drivers of acute food insecurity in most of the countries at risk.
According to the Rome-based agencies, Haiti, Mali, Palestine, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen are experiencing the most critical conditions, with populations in these countries “facing an imminent risk of catastrophic hunger.”
Other countries listed as areas of “very high concern” include Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, and Syria. Burkina Faso, Chad, Kenya, and the Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh were also highlighted as regions requiring urgent attention.
“We are on the brink of a completely preventable hunger catastrophe that threatens widespread starvation in multiple countries,” warned WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain. She cautioned that inaction would exacerbate instability, trigger further migration, and fuel conflict.
The report revealed a severe funding gap, noting that only $10.5 billion of the $29 billion needed for humanitarian assistance this year has been received. This shortfall has already forced WFP to scale back critical operations, including food assistance for refugees and displaced populations, and the suspension of school meal programmes in several countries.
The FAO, meanwhile, warned that insufficient funding threatens the protection of agricultural livelihoods that are vital to stabilising local food production. The agency stressed the urgent need for investment in seeds, livestock health services, and agricultural support “before planting seasons begin or new shocks occur.”
The two agencies urged governments, donors, and international partners to mobilise immediate resources to avert a worsening global food crisis, saying the world still has time to prevent mass starvation — but only if action is swift and coordinated.
