A number of Arab countries are on the list of “hunger hotspots” around the world

A report is issuedHunger hotspots“Twice annually by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)FAO) and the World Food Programme. The latest version identifies Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen and Palestine as the most dangerous hunger hotspots in the world in terms of severity and scope.

Highlights of the report

The report said that a risk of famine had been detected in 14 regions in Sudan, distributed between North Darfur, South Darfur and South Kordofan, until September 2026, and this situation is expected to continue in 13 regions during the harvest season until January 2027.

As for Yemen, acute food insecurity is expected to remain among the most severe in the world in 2026. Previous estimates indicated that 18.3 million people – half the population – will face levels of acute food insecurity that reach the “crisis” stage or worse.

While the report indicated that conditions in Gaza have improved since the ceasefire in October 2025, they remain fragile. The entire sector faced the threat of famine until mid-April 2026, with 1.6 million people suffering from severe food insecurity and needing urgent assistance, including more than half a million people who faced “emergency” levels of hunger.

Nigeria has also been added to the list of countries of most concern, following projections that residents in Borno State could face catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity in the coming months. Somalia was also classified in this category, with residents in the Bay region facing the risk of famine.

The list of countries also includes Syria, Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar and Haiti.

Causes of hunger and lack of finance

According to the report, armed conflict and violence remain the main drivers of acute food insecurity, affecting 12 out of 13 hotspots, and these pressures are exacerbated by economic shocks and increased risks associated with the expected El Niño phenomenon. This comes at a time when the humanitarian response is witnessing an unprecedented shortage in funding, as the resources allocated to it have decreased by an estimated 59% between 2022 and 2025.

In this context, Beth Bechdol, Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said: “We already know where the next food emergencies will occur. The challenge is how early and at the required scale we can act.”

Bekdol stressed that early investment in emergency agricultural aid and strengthening resilience is one of the most cost-effective ways to protect livelihoods, maintain local food production, and reduce future humanitarian needs.

For his part, Karl Skau, Acting Executive Director of the World Food Programme, stressed that the warnings contained in the report cannot be ignored. He added that conflicts, shocks and disasters “Families are forced to make impossible decisions about who gets food and who goes hungry.” Stressing that without taking immediate action, “Millions more are expected to face worsening levels of hunger in the coming months, pushing some towards the brink of starvation.”

Skau noted that WFP teams are prepared to respond quickly and on a large scale, but they need the resources necessary to provide food and access to those in need. “Before hunger turns into a disaster.”

The two UN agencies called for urgent and coordinated action to expand humanitarian assistance, ensure safe access, invest in livelihoods, and strengthen resilience.