2026 Global Report on Food Crises: Food Insecurity and Malnutrition Severe; Acute Hunger Doubles in Last Decade as Funding Falls to 2016 Levels
The 2026 Global Report on Food Crises indicates alarming levels of acute food insecurity and malnutrition, especially concentrated in conflict areas. Acute hunger has doubled in the past decade, and for the first time in history, two famines were declared in Gaza and Sudan in 2025.
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- 📰 Published: April 28, 2026 at 02:03
- 🔍 Collected: April 27, 2026 at 17:31
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A child receiving a nutritional examination using a mid-upper arm circumference measuring tape during a UNICEF-supported door-to-door nutrition campaign in Kassala State (Sudan, photographed December 20, 2024) © UNICEF/UNI707456/Saif
[April 24, 2026 – Geneva/New York/Other]
The Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC), an international framework comprising UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) and other international and governmental organizations, today released the "Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2026". According to the report, acute food insecurity and acute malnutrition remain at alarming and deeply entrenched levels. Furthermore, crises are becoming increasingly concentrated in specific countries. This 10th edition of the report points out that acute hunger has doubled in the past decade, and for the first time in the report's history, two famines were declared last year.
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This report by GNAFC reveals that acute food insecurity remains concentrated in specific countries. Two-thirds of the total population facing acute hunger is concentrated in 10 countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Afghanistan, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen experienced the largest food crises, both in terms of the proportion and absolute number of people facing "high levels of acute food insecurity".
Bahram, an 8-month-old baby diagnosed with severe malnutrition, at a UNICEF-supported daycare center in Kabul. He is recovering after being provided with Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) (Afghanistan, photographed October 23, 2025) © UNICEF/UNI885822/Karimi
In the most severe situations, famines were confirmed in the Gaza Strip (Gaza Governorate) and parts of Sudan in 2025, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). This is the first time since GRFC reporting began that famines have been confirmed in two different regions in the same year. These situations indicate a rapid progression of the most severe levels of hunger and malnutrition, primarily caused by conflict and restrictions on humanitarian access, further exacerbated by forced displacement.
In 2025, a total of 266 million people in 47 countries and regions faced high levels of acute food insecurity, representing approximately 23% of the analyzed population. This proportion is slightly higher than in 2024 and nearly double that of 2016. Acute food insecurity in 2025 reached the second most severe level on record, with the proportion of people facing extreme hunger remaining particularly high over the past two decades. The number of people facing "catastrophic hunger (famine)" (IPC Phase 5) has reached nine times the level of 2016.
At the same time, acute malnutrition also remains a serious and growing concern. In 2025 alone, 35.5 million children suffered from acute malnutrition, nearly 10 million of whom were suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Nearly half of the regions experiencing food crises are also facing nutrition crises. This reflects the combined effects of inadequate diet, widespread disease, and the collapse of essential services. In the most severely affected countries, such as Gaza, Myanmar, South Sudan, and Sudan, these multiple shocks lead to severe malnutrition and increased mortality risk.
Children are at risk of malnutrition in Gaza, forced to endure harsh living conditions in makeshift tents and damaged buildings (Palestine, photographed November 14, 2025) © UNICEF/UNI901421/Nateel
In addition, forced displacement continues to exacerbate food insecurity. In 2025, over 85 million people, including internally displaced persons, asylum seekers, and refugees, were displaced across food crisis regions. These populations consistently face more severe levels of acute food insecurity compared to people in host communities.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres states in the report's foreword: "Conflict remains the primary driver of acute food insecurity and acute malnutrition for millions of people worldwide, and the unprecedented declaration of undeniable famines in two conflict-affected regions in the same year is an unparalleled event. This report calls on global leaders to solidify the political will to rapidly scale up investment in life-saving aid and many
[April 24, 2026 – Geneva/New York/Other]
The Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC), an international framework comprising UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) and other international and governmental organizations, today released the "Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2026". According to the report, acute food insecurity and acute malnutrition remain at alarming and deeply entrenched levels. Furthermore, crises are becoming increasingly concentrated in specific countries. This 10th edition of the report points out that acute hunger has doubled in the past decade, and for the first time in the report's history, two famines were declared last year.
* * *
This report by GNAFC reveals that acute food insecurity remains concentrated in specific countries. Two-thirds of the total population facing acute hunger is concentrated in 10 countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Afghanistan, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen experienced the largest food crises, both in terms of the proportion and absolute number of people facing "high levels of acute food insecurity".
Bahram, an 8-month-old baby diagnosed with severe malnutrition, at a UNICEF-supported daycare center in Kabul. He is recovering after being provided with Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) (Afghanistan, photographed October 23, 2025) © UNICEF/UNI885822/Karimi
In the most severe situations, famines were confirmed in the Gaza Strip (Gaza Governorate) and parts of Sudan in 2025, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). This is the first time since GRFC reporting began that famines have been confirmed in two different regions in the same year. These situations indicate a rapid progression of the most severe levels of hunger and malnutrition, primarily caused by conflict and restrictions on humanitarian access, further exacerbated by forced displacement.
In 2025, a total of 266 million people in 47 countries and regions faced high levels of acute food insecurity, representing approximately 23% of the analyzed population. This proportion is slightly higher than in 2024 and nearly double that of 2016. Acute food insecurity in 2025 reached the second most severe level on record, with the proportion of people facing extreme hunger remaining particularly high over the past two decades. The number of people facing "catastrophic hunger (famine)" (IPC Phase 5) has reached nine times the level of 2016.
At the same time, acute malnutrition also remains a serious and growing concern. In 2025 alone, 35.5 million children suffered from acute malnutrition, nearly 10 million of whom were suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Nearly half of the regions experiencing food crises are also facing nutrition crises. This reflects the combined effects of inadequate diet, widespread disease, and the collapse of essential services. In the most severely affected countries, such as Gaza, Myanmar, South Sudan, and Sudan, these multiple shocks lead to severe malnutrition and increased mortality risk.
Children are at risk of malnutrition in Gaza, forced to endure harsh living conditions in makeshift tents and damaged buildings (Palestine, photographed November 14, 2025) © UNICEF/UNI901421/Nateel
In addition, forced displacement continues to exacerbate food insecurity. In 2025, over 85 million people, including internally displaced persons, asylum seekers, and refugees, were displaced across food crisis regions. These populations consistently face more severe levels of acute food insecurity compared to people in host communities.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres states in the report's foreword: "Conflict remains the primary driver of acute food insecurity and acute malnutrition for millions of people worldwide, and the unprecedented declaration of undeniable famines in two conflict-affected regions in the same year is an unparalleled event. This report calls on global leaders to solidify the political will to rapidly scale up investment in life-saving aid and many