1541. Global Hunger Reaches 266 Million People: Food Crises Intensify Amid Conflict and Climate Change

The Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC), together with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), and other partners, has released the Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2026, highlighting the continued deterioration of global food security.

According to the report, approximately 266 million people in 47 countries and territories faced high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC/CH Phase 3 or above) in 2025, representing 22.9% of the analyzed population. This figure is nearly double the level recorded in 2016.

Conflict and insecurity remain the primary drivers of food crises, affecting approximately 147 million people across 19 countries and territories. At the same time, climate-related shocks such as extreme weather events and natural disasters affected 87.5 million people, while economic shocks impacted 29.8 million people, illustrating how multiple and overlapping risks are undermining global food security.

Particularly alarming situations were reported in the Gaza Strip and Sudan. The report confirmed that Famine (IPC Phase 5) occurred in parts of both locations in 2025—the first time since the IPC classification system was established that famine has been confirmed in multiple locations within the same year. The report also warns that famine risks remain high in South Sudan and Yemen.

The nutrition situation has also deteriorated significantly. In 2025, an estimated 35.5 million children in food-crisis countries suffered from acute malnutrition, including 9.7 million children experiencing severe acute malnutrition. In addition, approximately 9.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women were reported to be acutely malnourished.

Another growing concern is the decline in humanitarian funding. Financial support for food and nutrition assistance has dropped sharply since 2022 and fell back to levels last seen in 2016–2017. As a result, humanitarian organizations are increasingly forced to prioritize assistance, raising concerns that many vulnerable populations may not receive adequate support.

Looking ahead, the report projects that conflict, climate-related shocks, and economic instability will continue to drive food insecurity in 2026. It further notes that escalating tensions in the Middle East could disrupt energy and fertilizer markets, potentially leading to higher food prices and additional risks for global food security.

The report concludes that today’s food crises are no longer temporary emergencies but rather long-term structural challenges driven by a complex interplay of conflict, poverty, climate change, and political instability. Strengthening the resilience of agricultural and food systems, alongside humanitarian assistance, will be essential for addressing these challenges.

Reference
FAO, WFP, GNAFC (2026), Global Report on Food Crises 2026 – Joint Analysis for Better Decisions
https://docs.wfp.org/api/documents/WFP-0000174714/download/

Contributor: Miyuki IIYAMA, Strategic Coordination Office