Story perspectives

2025 Famine Hits Gaza, Sudan as 266 M Face Hunger

4/25/2026

Summary

UN Highlights Famine

Famine was confirmed in Gaza and Sudan in 2025, the first record of two famines.
In 2025, 266 million people faced acute food insecurity, with ten countries—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, DRC, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen—accounting for two-thirds of those affected.
35.5 million children were malnourished, 10 million severely.
39 million people faced emergency hunger, while 85 million displaced persons experienced higher hunger than hosts, leading UN leaders to call for aid scaling.

Summary

Lario Warns Hunger

Alvaro Lario warned a U.S.-Israeli war on Iran could disrupt energy and fertilizer supplies, threatening food markets.
The report projects an extra 1 million people will face acute hunger in 2026, while humanitarian food funding fell about 39 percent in 2025 and development aid dropped at least 15 percent.
West Africa and the Sahel, Nigeria, remain under heavy pressure from conflict and inflation, with Nigeria facing the largest 2026 food-security rise.

Summary

Trump Cuts Aid

FAO said data were missing for 18 countries, the lowest coverage in a decade, likely understating the crisis and the 266 million high-insecurity estimate.
WFP lost over $2.6 billion and 6,000 jobs after President Donald Trump’s administration dismantled USAID.
The report notes a 57 percent drop in U.S. foreign aid and cuts from Germany, France, the Netherlands and the U.K., returning spending to 2016-2017 levels.

Summary

Partners Flag Hunger

The Global Report on Food Crises 2026 was produced by 18 humanitarian and development partners.
Conflict, weather extremes and economic shocks affected 147.4 million, 87.5 million and 29.8 million people respectively in 2025, while 9.2 million pregnant or breastfeeding women were acutely malnourished across 21 countries.
The report recorded 85.1 million displaced persons in 46 nations—62.6 million internally displaced and 22.5 million refugees—and noted Phase 4 emergencies affecting 39 million people in 32 countries (3.8 % of the population).

History

Historical Context

The 2007-2008 world food price crisis saw staple prices jump, with the FAO index up about 15% in 2008 and sparking riots in dozens of countries. Similar spikes returned in 2011 and 2022-23, leading BRIC leaders to issue a joint food-security statement. In 2025 the Global Report on Food Crises lists 266 million people in acute insecurity, notably in Nigeria and Sudan.

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UN Highlights Famine

Famine was confirmed in Gaza and Sudan in 2025, the first record of two famines.
In 2025, 266 million people faced acute food insecurity, with ten countries—Afghanistan, Bangladesh, DRC, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen—accounting for two-thirds of those affected.
35.5 million children were malnourished, 10 million severely.
39 million people faced emergency hunger, while 85 million displaced persons experienced higher hunger than hosts, leading UN leaders to call for aid scaling.

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