The Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, and Yemen are facing significant challenges.
Two-thirds of individuals experiencing food crises worldwide last year lived in only 10 countries, with one-third in Sudan, Nigeria, and the DRC. This information is from an annual report supported by the UN. It states that conflicts remain the primary factor in acute food insecurity. The report warns that conflicts and extreme weather events “risk maintaining or worsening the situation in many countries,” with a bleak outlook for 2026.
“Acute food insecurity remains highly concentrated in 10 countries – Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, and Yemen,” specified the report. Progress seen in some countries like Bangladesh and Syria has been almost entirely offset by notable deteriorations in Afghanistan, the DRC, Myanmar, and Zimbabwe.
Context:
– The report highlights the concentration of food insecurity in 10 countries due to conflicts and extreme weather events. – It also warns of a bleak outlook for 2026.
Fact Check:
– The total number of individuals facing food crises globally is not provided.
For the first time in its tenth edition, the report confirmed a famine in two distinct areas – Gaza and certain regions in Sudan – during the same year. Approximately 266 million people across 47 countries or territories experienced high levels of acute food insecurity in 2025, nearly double the number in 2016. The report also raises concerns about a significant drop in humanitarian aid funding and warns that Middle Eastern conflicts could exacerbate existing crises by increasing displaced populations and raising fertilizer costs.
The blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil supply route, caused fertilizer prices to soar. These fertilizers depend on petroleum-derived inputs. Alvaro Lario, President of the UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), pointed out that the current food shock due to energy and fertilizer price hikes will have a massive impact on production during the planting season.
Alvaro Lario called for more support for small-scale farmers by investing in water and climate-resilient crops. He emphasized that crises could be mitigated if farmers produced fertilizers locally and improved soil health, reducing the need for fertilizers. IFAD is also working to boost local private sector investments to enhance sustainability and make development funding more effective.
