NYN | News
United Nations agencies are intensifying warnings of an unprecedented hunger crisis threatening millions around the world, as reports indicate that several countries—including Yemen—stand on the brink of catastrophic famine in the coming months.
In a joint report released Wednesday, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) called for urgent action to confront an imminent threat facing six countries described as “areas of extreme concern”: Haiti, Mali, Palestine, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen. The report warned that these countries are at risk of reaching Phase 5 of the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) — catastrophic famine.
Covering the period from November 2025 to May 2026, the report explained that conflict and violence are the main drivers of hunger crises in 14 of the 16 regions identified as global hunger hotspots.
The report confirmed that acute food insecurity is worsening alarmingly in 16 regions, which could push millions of people to the brink of starvation—or into full-fledged famine—if urgent measures are not taken.
It also identified another six countries as “areas of very high concern”: Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, and Syria. The remaining four hunger hotspots include Burkina Faso, Chad, Kenya, and Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
The joint report stressed that famine is not an inevitable fate, but a predictable and preventable crisis. It called on the international community to refocus global attention on famine prevention, increase investments in food security, and strengthen long-term resilience.
Finally, it urged governments, donors, and partner organizations to respond immediately to the warnings issued by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) and the Cadre Harmonisé (CH) systems, and to take urgent measures before conditions reach the point of no return.
