FAO-WFP “Hunger hotspots” report calls for immediate action

The spread of conflict coupled with climate and economic stressors is pushing millions to the brink, with acute food insecurity set to increase in both magnitude and severity across 22 countries and territories, according to the report “Hunger Hotspots – FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity,”  issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).

In total, 22 countries/territories are classified as “hunger hotspots”, where high levels of acute food insecurity are expected to further deteriorate during the outlook period (November 2024 to May 2025).

According to the report, Palestine, the Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti and Mali remain at the highest alert level and require the most urgent attention. Conflict is the primary driver of hunger in all these areas.

The report draws attention to famine in the Zamzam camp in North Darfur and famine risk in other areas of Sudan, the enduring risk of famine in Palestine (Gaza Strip) and the catastrophic level of acute food insecurity in Haiti, Mali, and South Sudan.

FAO Director-General QU Dongyu said that many in the affected areas are facing “unprecedented enduring starvation.” Moreover, “if we are to save lives and prevent acute hunger and malnutrition, we urgently need a humanitarian ceasefire.”

Aurélien Mellin of the Office of Emergencies and Resilience (OER) made a warning that “without immediate humanitarian efforts and concerted international action to address severe access constraints and advocate for the de-escalation of conflict and insecurity, further starvation and loss of life are likely in Palestine, Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti and Mali.”

According to FAO, the war has damaged 57 percent of Gaza’s farmland, destroyed 33 percent of its greenhouses, and killed 70 percent of its livestock. Almost 15,000 – or 95 percent – of Gaza’s cattle have died, and nearly all calves have been slaughtered.

Addressing the media in a press briefing at the UN in New York, OER Director Rein Paulsen said that in Sudan “Time is running out to save lives…and people are facing total collapse of livelihoods and starvation in areas where conflict is hitting the hardest across the country.”

The report spotlights the regional fallout from the crisis in Gaza, which has seen Lebanon engulfed in conflict, and warns that the La Niña weather pattern risks affecting climates through March 2025, threatening fragile food systems in already vulnerable regions.

Without immediate intervention, including increased funding for food and livelihoods assistance, hundreds of thousands more are expected to face starvation in the coming months.

Maxwell Sibhensana, OER Deputy Director, noted: “In Sudan, for instance, famine has already been declared in Zamzam camp, in North Darfur. And we also see the risk of famine in Palestine, particularly the Gaza Strip, and the drivers are largely linked to conflict as well as armed violence that has resulted in displacement of populations. And when we look at the impact of displacement, but also the impact on food systems, we see a situation where populations are no longer able to subsist from their regular livelihoods.”

The effects of the La Niña weather pattern are expected to further exacerbate some of the food crises, according to the report. While some areas may benefit from improved agricultural conditions, La Niña is likely to cause devastating floods in countries such as Nigeria and South Sudan, while potentially contributing to dry conditions in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia.

These extreme weather events threaten already fragile food systems, putting millions at risk of hunger.

In areas where conflict is the major driver of the food insecurity and the humanitarian need, the expert underlined, FAO calls for unimpeded access to the population that has been affected and that humanitarian actors can be facilitated to reach these populations as quickly as possible.

Funding can be made available to respond with the complete suite of interventions that will meet the immediate need as well as the long-term needs. In this instance, FAO has been promoting emergency agriculture.

Maxwell Sibhensana, OER Deputy Director, specifically noted: “Agriculture is a cost-effective way of addressing food insecurity, because a dollar invested in agriculture will yield 6 USD of production and, in some instances, households have been able to produce enough to cover their needs for 7 to 10 months within a year.”

The report stresses that early, targeted action is essential to prevent the further deterioration of the crisis and avert mass hunger-related mortality. FAO and WFP are urging world leaders to prioritize conflict resolution, economic support, and climate adaptation measures to protect the most vulnerable populations from the brink of famine.

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Here’s the link to the related video: https://digital-media.fao.org/Share/7br012x6yrhht4b34732w2d38hk24gb0