UN warns of rising famines, severe malnutrition in conflict zones

CAIRO - 27 april 2026: Ongoing conflicts continue to devastate global food security, particularly in nations grappling with complex economic and social crises. According to the 2026 Global Report on Food Crises, acute food insecurity and malnutrition have reached alarmingly high levels, with the most severe cases concentrated in just ten conflict-ridden countries.

The UN report reveals that 266 million people across 47 countries suffered from high levels of acute food insecurity during 2025—nearly double the figures recorded in 2016. The report warns that hunger is no longer a series of short-term emergencies but has evolved into a persistent and growing global challenge.

Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), emphasized that acute food insecurity today is not only widespread but also structural and recurring. He highlighted that conflict remains the primary driver, affecting more than half of those facing severe hunger.

For the first time since the report's inception, two separate famines were confirmed in a single year (2025) in the Gaza Strip and parts of Sudan. Ten countries accounted for two-thirds of the global total of people facing high levels of acute hunger, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, DR Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

Children remain the most vulnerable group in this escalating crisis. UNICEF reported that in 2025, 35.5 million children suffered from acute malnutrition, including nearly 10 million facing severe wasting—a life-threatening condition that drastically increases the risk of death.

Ricardo Pires, UNICEF spokesperson, warned that children suffering from severe wasting have weakened immune systems to the point where common childhood illnesses can become fatal. In the hardest-hit regions, such as Gaza, Myanmar, and Sudan, overlapping crises of conflict, disease, and limited access to essential services are driving malnutrition to extreme levels.