UN Warns of Looming Global Famine Amid Funding Shortfalls

Two United Nations food agencies have warned that millions more people worldwide could face famine as funding shortages exacerbate already critical conditions.

In a joint report released on Wednesday, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) said that conflict and violence are driving acute food insecurity in most of the countries identified as at risk.

The Rome-based agencies highlighted Haiti, Mali, Palestine, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen as the most critical, where populations face an imminent threat of catastrophic hunger. Countries of “very high concern” include Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, and Syria. Burkina Faso, Chad, Kenya, and the situation of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh were also noted as areas of serious concern.

“We are on the brink of a completely preventable hunger catastrophe that threatens widespread starvation in multiple countries,” said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain. She warned that inaction could fuel further instability, migration, and conflict.

The report highlighted that funding for humanitarian relief is dangerously insufficient, with only $10.5 billion received out of the $29 billion required to support vulnerable populations.

As a result of funding cuts, the WFP has reduced assistance for refugees and displaced persons and suspended some school feeding programs. The FAO stressed that efforts to protect agricultural livelihoods—which are crucial for stabilizing food production and preventing repeated crises—are under threat. Funding is urgently needed for seeds and livestock health services ahead of planting seasons and potential new shocks.