266 Million Face Extreme Hunger as Global Food Crisis Deepens by 2026

Millions of people across 13 countries are facing worsening food insecurity between June and November 2026. Conflict, economic shocks, climate extremes, and a severe lack of humanitarian funding are driving the crisis. Around 266 million people in these hotspots already experience high levels of acute food insecurity. Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, and Palestine remain the areas of greatest concern. In Sudan, famine risks loom in 14 areas, with nearly 200,000 people expected to face catastrophic hunger between June and September. South Sudan is also severely affected, with 7.8 million people projected to face crisis-level hunger or worse from April to July, including 73,000 in catastrophic conditions.

Yemen’s situation is equally dire, with over 18 million people facing crisis-level or worse food insecurity in 2026, including 41,000 in catastrophic conditions. North-east Nigeria and Somalia have now been added to the list of highest concern, as projections show catastrophic food insecurity in both regions. Funding for food assistance and emergency programmes has dropped sharply, falling by an estimated 59 per cent between 2022 and 2025. The combination of conflict, economic instability, and climate extremes is pushing more regions toward famine. Humanitarian funding shortages have worsened the outlook for vulnerable populations. Without intervention, the number of people facing extreme hunger will continue to rise.