Global Hunger Crisis: A Report on Acute Food Insecurity
La Marea
- While global food production is sufficient, 266 million people currently suffer from acute food insecurity.
- The primary drivers of this crisis are war, poverty, mass displacement, and climate change.
- Humanitarian funding for food-related sectors in crisis contexts dropped by 59% between 2022 and 2025.
Top 10 Countries Facing Food Crises
- Two-thirds of the world’s hunger-stricken population live in 10 countries: Nigeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Sudan, and Syria.
- Despite being resource-rich, countries like Nigeria and the DRC suffer from a neo-extractivist economic model that serves external capital rather than local populations.
- Sudan experienced a declared famine in 2025, and South Sudan joined the top 10 list in 2026, with over 80% of its population requiring humanitarian aid.
Impact on Vulnerable Populations
- Approximately 30 million children and 6.5 million pregnant or lactating women are suffering from acute malnutrition.
- Malnutrition significantly reduces immune system efficacy, making individuals more vulnerable to recurring infections.
Crisis in Gaza
- Gaza faces extreme restrictions on humanitarian operations, with 93% of households suffering from cash shortages and 60% lacking access to safe drinking water.
- Logistics and administrative barriers frequently block aid from reaching families in need.
- UN investigations have characterized the situation in Gaza, including attacks on children, as part of a deliberate strategy of genocide.
- UN humanitarian official Tom Fletcher described the famine as a "21st-century famine watched by drones and the most advanced military technology in history."