The United Nations has issued a stark warning that over a dozen countries face the threat of famine this year, with global food insecurity reaching alarming levels. According to a joint report released by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) on Thursday, approximately 266 million people worldwide are currently experiencing “acute food insecurity,” a figure expected to rise in the coming months.

The report identifies several contributing factors to the escalating crisis, including ongoing regional conflicts, climate change, reductions in Western aid, and shortages of fertilizer exacerbated by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Carl Skau, the acting chief of the WFP, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that without immediate action, millions more individuals will face worsening hunger conditions, pushing some closer to famine.

Countries of greatest concern remain Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, and the Gaza Strip. Nigeria and Somalia have recently been added to the list as famine risks increase. The report also highlights Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Myanmar, Haiti, Mali, Lebanon, and Madagascar as additional hotspots vulnerable to severe food insecurity.

Conflict and violence are identified as the primary drivers of hunger in nearly all affected regions. The impact of an anticipated El Niño weather pattern threatens to intensify conditions by triggering droughts and floods across already fragile areas. Compounding the crisis in the eastern DRC, a recent Ebola outbreak has disrupted local markets, livelihoods, and hindered access to humanitarian aid.

Funding shortfalls have significantly hampered relief efforts. Western nations have scaled back aid, with support for food assistance and related programs declining by roughly 59% since 2022 amid rising needs. Both the United Kingdom and the United States have reduced their international aid commitments in recent years. The WFP’s 2026 appeal, which seeks over $10 billion, remains substantially underfunded.

In the Gaza Strip, about 1.6 million people are classified as acutely food insecure, with half a million experiencing an acute food emergency. Yemen continues to face one of the most severe food security crises globally, hosting the largest number of people in emergency or catastrophic levels of hunger, according to the report.