A young refugee sits in a tent in Pakistan in 2025 with a plate of food. Pakistan and nine other countries account for two-thirds of people with food insecurity, a recent report said.
Photo by Carlos Duarte, courtesy iStockphoto
“In these difficult times, understanding who is most at risk, where they are and what they need is more critical than ever.”
— António Guterres
Nearly three years after war upended daily life in Gaza, Palestinians continue to face an ongoing hunger crisis.
Israeli-led bans on humanitarian aid organizations have diminished access to food, clean water and medical supplies, while airstrikes have devastated key parts of their food system — from bakeries and mills to local markets.
The crisis in Gaza mirrors a broader global trend: food insecurity driven by conflict, economic shocks and extreme weather is rising worldwide. A record 266 million people experienced acute food insecurity last year, according to the “Global Report on Food Crises 2026,” released in April.
“In these difficult times, understanding who is most at risk, where they are and what they need is more critical than ever,” António Guterres, U.N. secretary general, said in the report. “Ending hunger is a test of our shared humanity. It is a test we cannot fail.”
The report found levels of acute food insecurity — a life-threatening, short-term lack of food — have nearly doubled since 2016. While crises span globally, just 10 countries — Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen — account for two-thirds of those facing high levels of insecurity.
For the first time in the report's 10-year history, two famines were declared in a single year, in Gaza and Sudan, where civil war and widespread violence have disrupted food systems and displaced millions.
Alongside Gaza and Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Haiti and Mali faced the most severe levels of food insecurity, with a total of 1.4 million people experiencing catastrophic hunger — a more than ninefold increase since 2016.
Over 85 million people were forcibly displaced across food-burdened areas in 2025, including internally displaced people, asylum-seekers and refugees.
Like many crises, children bear the brunt. More than 35 million children were acutely malnourished in 2025, including 10 million suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Impacts can last a lifetime. Childhood malnutrition is linked to stunted growth, cognitive delays, weakened immune systems, psychological stress and behavioral challenges. In the most severe cases, it can be fatal, contributing to an estimated 3 million deaths each year.
“This is not about scarcity of food but about the lack of political will to ensure that children everywhere have access to basic nutrition, safe water and the essential services they rely on to survive and grow,” Catherine Russell, JD, UNICEF executive director, said in a news release. “In a world of plenty, there is no reason for a child to suffer or die because of malnutrition.”
Globally, the outlook is worsening. Extreme weather is likely to escalate, with droughts, floods, storms and heat waves causing damage to crops, livestock and infrastructure. Last year, weather extremes were the primary driver of food insecurity in 16 countries and territories. The extremes affected more than 87 million people.
Ongoing conflicts in the Middle East are also likely to further strain already fragile systems. Violence has displaced millions, while rising energy and transportation costs are driving up food prices. Meanwhile, disruptions to trade routes carrying energy and fertilizers could ripple across global food markets, the report warns.
The escalating crises are unfolding against a sharp decline in humanitarian aid. Funding for food security and nutrition has fallen back to levels last seen nearly a decade ago. The U.S. — historically the largest donor of global humanitarian assistance — has significantly cut foreign aid under the Trump administration.
“We have the expertise, resources and knowledge to break the cycle of hunger, prevent famine and save countless lives,” Cindy McCain, World Food Program executive director, said in a news release. “What's needed now is a collective effort to end conflicts and the necessary resources to drive real change.”
For more information, visit www.fightfoodcrises.net.
- Copyright The Nation’s Health, American Public Health Association
