Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) have released a Hunger Hotspots report, identifying 13 countries and territories where food insecurity is expected to worsen from June to November 2026. Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, and Palestine remain the most critical hotspots, while Nigeria and Somalia have been added to the highest-risk category due to famine concerns, according to the report.
Conflict is cited as the main driver of hunger in 12 of the 13 hotspots. WFP Acting Executive Director Carl Skau stated that ongoing conflict and related shocks are forcing families to make difficult decisions about food distribution within households.
The report notes a sharp decline in humanitarian funding, with support for food assistance, emergency farming programs, and nutrition responses in crisis areas dropping by about 59 percent between 2022 and 2025. About 266 million people across these countries face severe food insecurity.
Sudan faces the world's worst hunger crisis, with famine risks continuing in regions like Darfur and South Kordofan, affecting nearly 20 million people earlier this year. Yemen continues to experience one of the worst global hunger crises, with estimates suggesting over 18 million people face severe food shortages. In Palestine, conditions in Gaza remain fragile despite some recovery after a 2025 ceasefire, with over 1.6 million people previously assessed as urgently needing food assistance. Nigeria and Somalia have been upgraded to the highest-risk category due to drought, conflict, and poor harvests.
The report also warns that economic shocks and climate variability are worsening food insecurity, and potential disruptions from the Middle East conflict and recent Ebola outbreaks in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo could further limit humanitarian access and harm markets. FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol stressed the need for timely, scaled interventions, including emergency agricultural support, to help families maintain food production and reduce reliance on aid.