A UN report has warned that acute food insecurity could worsen for millions of people in 13 countries classified as “hunger hotspots” between June and November 2026.
The report was released on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), and was received by Food & Climate.
The latest edition of the “Hunger Hotspots” report, published twice a year by the Global Network Against Food Crises, identifies Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, and Palestine as the world’s most severe and widespread hunger hotspots.
Nigeria Added to Hunger Hotspots List
Nigeria has been added to the list of countries of greatest concern, with projections indicating that the population of Borno State could face catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity (defined as a severe lack of food/other basic needs, with a risk of famine, death, extreme poverty, and extremely dangerous levels of acute malnutrition) during the reporting period.
Somalia has also been classified in this category, with the population of Bay District in Burhakaba County facing the risk of famine.
Armed conflict and violence remain the primary drivers of acute food insecurity, affecting 12 of the 13 hunger hotspots.
These pressures are exacerbated by economic shocks, severe funding shortfalls, and the increasing risks associated with the anticipated El Niño event, which could bring erratic rainfall, drought, and flooding to countries already experiencing extreme fragility.
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Unprecedented Funding Shortfall
This warning comes at a time of unprecedented funding shortfalls for the humanitarian response. Funding for food assistance, emergency agricultural aid, and nutrition in food crises has fallen by an estimated 59 percent between 2022 and 2025, returning to levels not seen in nearly a decade.
Meanwhile, the number of people facing high levels of acute food insecurity in these countries has risen to approximately 266 million.
The report also warns that additional shocks are exacerbating the situation for millions of people.
This is due to recent events, such as the repercussions of the conflict in the Middle East and the Ebola outbreak in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
These additional shocks threaten to further disrupt livelihoods, markets, and humanitarian access.
Farmers are losing the ability to cultivate
“We now know where the next hunger emergencies will occur,” said Beth Bechdol, FAO Deputy Director-General. “The challenge is whether we act early enough and at the right scale.
” She added: “When farmers are unable to cultivate their land, pastoralists lose their livestock, and markets are disrupted, food insecurity escalates rapidly. Early investment in emergency agricultural assistance and resilience-building is one of the most cost-effective ways to protect livelihoods, support local food production, and reduce future humanitarian needs.”
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“The warnings in this report cannot be ignored,” said Carl Skau, Acting Executive Director of the World Food Programme.
Conflict, trauma, and disaster are forcing families to make agonizing decisions about who gets food and who goes to bed hungry. Without immediate action, millions more are expected to face worsening levels of hunger in the coming months, pushing some to the brink of famine.
He continued: “Our teams are ready to respond quickly and on a large scale. We need resources to deliver food and ensure access to people before hunger becomes a catastrophe.”
Areas of Greatest Risk
In Sudan, famine risk was identified in 14 areas across North Darfur, South Darfur, and South Kordofan until September 2026, and is projected to persist in 13 areas through the harvest season until January 2027.
In South Sudan, 7.8 million people—55 percent of the population—are expected to face crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity between April and July 2026, including 2.5 million in emergency situations.
Four counties are also projected to face famine risk until July 2026.
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Acute food insecurity in Yemen is expected to remain among the most severe globally in 2026. Nigeria has also joined the list of countries of greatest concern, with some 34.8 million people expected to face high levels of acute food insecurity during the same period.
In Palestine, the situation in the Gaza Strip has improved since the ceasefire in October 2025, but remains fragile. The situation is not much different in Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Myanmar, and Mali.
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