FAO warns of severe food insecurity in 22 countries

The report assesses 16 hunger hotspots around the world, analyzing their prospects for the period from November 2024 to March 2025. Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Haiti and Mali are considered "of highest concern" and in need of "most urgent attention", while Chad, Lebanon, Myanmar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Syria and Yemen are considered "of very high concern". The remaining 10 countries and territories on the list are considered hunger hotspots, including Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, Niger, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe. This alarming situation is driven by at least three factors: conflict, climate and instability, and economic disparities. Separately or together, these factors threaten to "deepen already life-threatening conditions".

According to the report, conflict and armed violence continue to be the main drivers of hunger in many hotspots, disrupting food supply systems, displacing people and hindering access to humanitarian assistance.

Regarding the climate situation, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) warned that La Nina could increase extreme weather events and threaten unstable food supply systems, exacerbating food crises in vulnerable areas until early next spring.

Referring to the five hunger hotspots considered to be of the highest concern, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu stressed the urgent need for a humanitarian ceasefire and restoration of access to and availability of nutritious food. Qu said peace and stability are essential for farmers to grow food, harvest and sustain their livelihoods. Access to nutritious food is not only a basic need but also a fundamental human right.

The FAO and WFP report stresses that early and targeted action is crucial to preventing the crisis from escalating.