Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali remain hotspots of highest concern, and Democratic Republic of the Congo has returned as a hunger hotspot to watch
ROME, Italy, June 16, 2025/APO Group/ --
A new joint UN report warns that people in five hunger hotspots around the world face extreme hunger and risk of starvation and death in the coming months unless there is urgent humanitarian action and a coordinated international effort to de-escalate conflict, stem displacement, and mount an urgent full-scale aid response.
The latest Hunger Hotspots report shows that Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Haiti and Mali are hotspots of highest concern, with communities already facing famine, at risk of famine or confronted with catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity due to intensifying or persisting conflict, economic shocks, and natural hazards. The devastating crises are being exacerbated by growing access constraints and critical funding shortfalls.
The semi-annual Hunger Hotspots report is an early-warning and predictive analysis of deteriorating food crises for the next five months. Developed and published with financial support from the European Union through the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC), the latest edition projects a serious deterioration of acute food insecurity in 13 countries and territories – the world’s most critical hunger hotspots in the coming months.
In addition to hotspots of highest concern, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar and Nigeria are now hotspots of very high concern and require urgent attention to save lives and livelihoods. Other hotspots include Burkina Faso, Chad, Somalia, and Syria.
“This report makes it very clear: hunger today is not a distant threat – it is a daily emergency for millions,” FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said. “We must act now, and act together, to save lives and safeguard livelihoods. Protecting people’s farms and animals to ensure they can keep producing food where they are, even in the toughest and harshest conditions, is not just urgent – it is essential.”
“This report is a red alert. We know where hunger is rising and we know who is at risk,” said Cindy McCain, World Food Programme Executive Director. “We have the tools and experience to respond, but without funding and access, we cannot save lives. Urgent, sustained investment in food assistance and recovery support is crucial as the window to avert yet more devastating hunger is closing fast."
Hotspots of highest concern
In Sudan, Famine was confirmed in 2024. Conditions are expected to persist due to the continuing conflict and ongoing displacement, particularly in the Greater Kordofan and Greater Darfur regions. Displacement is likely to increase further during the outlook period while humanitarian access remains restricted. The circumstances are driving the country towards the risk of partial economic collapse, with high inflation severely limiting food access. Around 24.6 million people were projected to face Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above) levels of acute food insecurity, including 637,000 people facing Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) through May 2025.
In Palestine, the likelihood of famine in the Gaza Strip is growing as large-scale military operations hinder the ability to deliver vital food and non-food humanitarian assistance. In addition to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Gaza Strip, high food prices coupled with exhausted livelihoods and a commercial blockade will accelerate an
economic collapse. The entire population in Gaza – 2.1 million people – is projected to face Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above) levels of acute food insecurity, with 470,000 projected to face Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) through September 2025.
South Sudan faces compounding threats from political tensions, the risk of flooding, and economic challenges. Approximately 7.7 million people – or 57 percent of the population – are projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) between April and July 2025, with 63,000 people projected to face Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) levels of acute food insecurity. An IPC update released after the report’s finalization indicated Risk of Famine in two areas of the country and confirmed the bleak outlook.
In Haiti, record levels of gang violence and insecurity are displacing communities and crippling aid access. Over 8,400 internally displaced persons (IDPs) already facing Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) levels of acute food insecurity in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area by June 2025.
Meanwhile, in Mali, high grain prices and ongoing conflict are eroding the coping capacities of the most vulnerable households, particularly in conflict-affected areas. Around 2 600 people are at risk of Catastrophe (CH Phase 5) from June to August 2025 if assistance is not provided on time.
Additional hotspots and areas of improvement
In Myanmar, the impact of the recent major earthquake is likely to worsen the already dire food insecurity situation in the country, driven by escalating conflict, widespread displacement, severe access restrictions and high food prices.
The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been reintroduced to the hotspot list due to intensifying conflict.
In contrast, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have been removed from the Hunger Hotspots list. In East and Southern Africa, as well as in Niger, better climatic conditions for harvests and fewer weather extremes have eased food security pressures. Lebanon has also been delisted following reduced intensity of military operations. However, FAO and WFP warn that these gains remain fragile and could reverse quickly if shocks re-emerge.
A call for global solidarity
In multiple hotspots, aid delivery is significantly hampered by restricted humanitarian access due to insecurity, bureaucratic impediments, or physical isolation. At the same time, critical funding shortfalls are forcing reductions in food rations, limiting the reach of life-saving nutrition and agricultural interventions.
The Hunger Hotspots report highlights the importance of continued investments in early humanitarian action. Pre-emptive interventions save lives, reduce food gaps, and protect assets and livelihoods at a significantly lower cost than delayed humanitarian action.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Food Programme (WFP).
Somalilandpress stop the censorship. Because I know you allowed worse than that.
What do somalilandpress censor.
They're holding on to one of my comment, And it's hilarious to say the least. Because the amount of offensive, garbage, and related to subject in hand comments they release daily on this website. And object mine is mind-boggling.
**unrelated
nothing new here, an authoratarian regime exercising its power. I also dispice those who in the name of press freedom delibrately break laws, report unsourced false allegation and know nothing about balanced reports.
@ Ali,
Its called Isaaq news network, no sources required just makeup anything and call it news and hope people are stupid enough to buy it.
@GUS YUSUF
wake up darood boy, it ist the issaqs that are making your uncle farole shut down radios and newspaper stations all over the darood enclave.
@ Asscalrt,
Only in your dreams son. Your people are struggling agaist Dhul and warsan so what makes you think you can get anywhere close to MJ?.
Since the piracy was diminished from the Somalia's side of Indian ocean, Puntland's clannish based administration has suffered hugely, consequently been in virtue of collapsing in an accelerating rate.
Banning the media is clearly a sign of desperation. Somalia's weak government should take an advantage of the situation by requesting a rapid deployment of the AMISOM forces to free it's citizen from dictator Farooleh.
@ osman Qaal, I think you've been chewing too much khat. What makes you think the people and government of Puntland will allow Amison and Hawiye to occupie and rule P/L?. I know you would love to see P/L destroyed but i am sorry to inform you this will never happen.
@Guhan
Ignore ppl like Osman Qaal they lost sense of direction. today somaliland region is facing more problem than ever before, every door is close now. they thought the british will hand over recognition but they were wrong in a big time instead the british gave them divorce letter.
Puntland has many enemies and any news outlet spewing propaganda to aid the enemies should be outlawed its fair game.
Bugland – piracy – aid from Mogadisho = Thirsty + hunger + refugees. What is there isn Pugland? Darood bilaa magaalo
@Kuluc,
P/L has a government that controls from Bosaso all the way to Galkacyo as well as parts of Sanag and Sool. president Farole doesn't need Amison for protection like the Abgal president of Xamar. P/L government is capable of guarding its own properties unlike the Abgal president who can't even prevent his Villa from being robbed, and that's probably why he need foreigners to protect him because he doesn't trust his own militia who robbed him as he slept. "Thirsty+hunger+refugees" do you even know what you are talking about boy? you are clearly an idiot it is southerners who are the hungry, thirsty, and refugees who come to P/L for protection as they flee war torn south Somalia as IDPs. If you want more lesson just let me know son.
Gulaid,
Bugland is confined to only Garoowe, Boosaaso and nothern parts of Galkacayho ( there is a green line in the city, that we know). Sool and Sanaag regions are part and parcel of Somaliland, and that we know too.
That Bugland people cannot resist against any attack and offense from Hawiye is also known to all. That Bugland people live on piracy – illegotten properties – is also known to all, and when that will finally stop, all people from Bugland will either surrender to Somaliland or Sourhtern Somalia.is a fact.
This is the reality, believe it or not- and teality teaches logic. What is there in Bugland? You fool!
@ Kuluc,
First of all go learn how to spell and learn some basic grammar.
Second of all P/L government controls Bosaso to Galkacyo ( 80% of Galkacyo, trust me Sacad are nothing in Galkacyo, they only live in some pocket of southern Galkacyo) as well as Warsangeli part of Sannag and some parts of Sool now thats almost 1/3 of Somalia whether you like it or not. How are Hawiye gonna attack us? do you think this is 1991 when only your hutu cousins were the only clan armed?. Beside they can't even secure their own land they need Amison for protection hahaha lol.
@ Kuluc,
We mainly live off from Bosaso port revenues and many Habar jeclo and Habar yunis businessmen come to Bosaso to buy products that comes from Bosaso port because their Habar awal cousin only let the Ethiopians used Berbera port. So Mr. Kuluc I suggest you be on your best behavior or we will put sanctions on your people.
@ Kuluc,
"Puntland is confined to only Garoowe,Boosaaso and northern parts of Galkacayho"
Go ahead and look at the map and look how big the distance between those cities are. That's a big chunk of Somalia.
These three radio station two of them own by GODANE so it should be shut down.
Although I hold no love for the current regime in Puntland, I do not sympathize with those Tribilist media. If they want to work in Puntland they have to follow the local law which starts with registering with the Ministry of Information..You can't break the laws and expect to be treated as you please. I am for the freedom of press, but I am slow for respecting the law of the land.
Well said Abdi, these so called medias come from outside Puntland they come from hostile enemy clans and their agenda are to spread lies and try to destabilize Puntland. Puntland has many enemies so i support the government shut them down.
Pirateland, is an enclaves of thugs, who formed this territory just to commit crimes against humanity. Whether pirate or human trafficking this the only place of all Somali speaking region who deals with these kind businesses. When these businesses were to be shut down which Hassan Sheikh government is doing , the place will died slowly. And closing radio station is sign of weakness not strength.