UN-backed report warns of structural breakdown in food systems as famine emerges in multiple regions and aid retreats to decade-low levels

Acute food insecurity and malnutrition remain at alarmingly high levels worldwide, with hunger increasingly concentrated in a core group of countries, according to the 2026 edition of the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC), released by an international alliance of humanitarian and development organizations. Marking its tenth year, the report underscores a stark trend: the number of people facing acute hunger has doubled over the past decade, even as funding for response efforts has fallen back to levels last seen in 2016.

The report finds that 266 million people across 47 countries and territories experienced high levels of acute food insecurity in 2025, representing nearly 23 percent of the assessed population. The severity of hunger remains among the highest recorded in two decades, with the number of people facing catastrophic hunger now nine times higher than in 2016.

Acute food insecurity remains heavily concentrated, with ten countries — including Afghanistan, Sudan, Yemen and the Democratic Republic of the Congo — accounting for nearly two-thirds of the global total. At the most extreme end, famine was confirmed in two separate contexts in 2025, marking the first such occurrence in the report’s history and signaling a sharp escalation in crisis severity driven largely by conflict, restricted humanitarian access and displacement.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres described the findings as a call to urgent global action. “Conflict remains the primary driver of acute food insecurity and malnutrition for millions around the world, with outright famine emerging in two conflict-affected areas in the same year — an unprecedented development,” he said. “This report is a call to action urging global leaders to summon the political will to rapidly scale up investment in lifesaving aid, and work to end the conflicts that inflict so much suffering on so many.”

The report also highlights worsening malnutrition, particularly among children. In 2025, 35.5 million children were acutely malnourished, including nearly 10 million suffering from severe acute malnutrition. The convergence of inadequate diets, disease burden and fragile health systems continues to drive elevated mortality risks in the most severely affected regions.

European Commissioner Hadja Lahbib emphasized the report’s role as a shared global benchmark. “Hunger is getting worse,” she said. “This report helps us track the trends, compare across crises, and understand where the needs are greatest. Most importantly, it is an early warning and a call to act.”

Similarly, European Commissioner Jozef Síkela stressed the importance of coordinated analysis and investment. “Food crises are often the first signal of deeper fragility,” he noted, adding that reliable data remains critical to guiding action and building resilient food systems.

German State Secretary Niels Annen pointed to the need for integrated responses that bridge humanitarian and development efforts. “We need to prevent food and nutrition crises through the transformation of our agriculture and food systems,” he said, underscoring the importance of data-driven decision-making.

From the United Kingdom, Development Minister Jenny Chapman highlighted the compounding effects of conflict, climate change and economic shocks. “We must not grow numb to the harrowing impact of hunger and malnutrition,” she said, calling for strengthened global partnerships to address root causes.

Leaders of international organizations echoed similar concerns. Qu Dongyu of the Food and Agriculture Organization described acute food insecurity as a structural issue rather than a series of isolated crises. “We must shift from reacting too late to acting early,” he said, emphasizing the need to protect local food production systems.

Alvaro Lario, President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, highlighted the role of small-scale farmers in building resilience. “Strengthening their resilience is not optional,” he said, noting that investments in climate-resilient agriculture and rural finance are essential to long-term stability.

Catherine Russell, Executive Director of UNICEF, warned of the human toll, particularly on children. “Millions of children on the verge of starvation must be a wake-up call to the world,” she said, stressing that the crisis reflects a failure of political will rather than a lack of resources.

Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme, described the current situation as a worsening cycle. “Severe hunger has doubled, and famine has been declared in two places,” she said, adding that the tools to address the crisis already exist but require greater commitment and funding.

The report also draws attention to the role of forced displacement, with more than 85 million people displaced across food-crisis contexts, often facing higher levels of hunger than host populations. Meanwhile, declining humanitarian funding is constraining response capacity, limiting both immediate relief efforts and long-term resilience-building initiatives.

Looking ahead, the outlook for 2026 remains bleak. Ongoing conflicts, climate variability and economic instability — including rising energy and fertilizer costs — are expected to sustain or worsen food insecurity in multiple regions. The report warns that disruptions in global agrifood markets could further exacerbate vulnerabilities, particularly in import-dependent regions.

The Global Network Against Food Crises calls for a strategic shift toward sustained, coordinated action that addresses root causes, strengthens resilience and reduces long-term dependence on emergency aid. Without decisive intervention, the report concludes, acute food insecurity risks becoming an increasingly permanent feature of the global landscape.