**Fatshimetrie: Severe food crises threaten hundreds of thousands of people in vulnerable regions**
A recent publication by the United Nations food agencies highlights an alarming situation of food crises in several vulnerable areas around the world. Among the most affected territories are the Palestinian territories, Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti and Mali, where populations are facing imminent or already present famine.
Conflict, economic instability and climate shocks, combined with reduced funding for emergency food assistance and agriculture, are the main factors contributing to these alarming levels of acute food insecurity. In their report, the UN food and agriculture agencies indicate that immediate and strengthened interventions are needed to avoid further deterioration in these already vulnerable regions.
Projections show that acute food insecurity is expected to worsen over the next six months in 16 “hunger hotspots” spread across 14 countries and two regions. Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti, Mali and the Palestinian territories remain at the level of “maximum concern,” according to the report.
Chad, Lebanon, Myanmar, Mozambique, Nigeria, the Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen are classified as “hotspots of very high concern” where large numbers of people are facing or are likely to face critical levels of acute food insecurity. Conflict and armed violence remain the main drivers of hunger in many hotspots, disrupting food systems, displacing populations and hampering humanitarian access.
FAO and WFP experts assess that the conflict in Sudan is likely to spread, leading to massive displacement, likely prolonged famine and an increase in the number of people in catastrophic conditions. This will further exacerbate the regional humanitarian crisis, with increased cross-border movements to neighbouring countries such as Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, Libya, Ethiopia and the Central African Republic.
The report also highlights that the ongoing conflict in the Palestinian territories has created “unprecedented” needs, with near-total population displacement and an increased risk of regional spillover. In Lebanon, the escalating conflict is having a significant impact on the number of people requiring humanitarian assistance and is significantly worsening levels of acute food insecurity.
Since the last report in May 2024, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia and Niger have been added to the list of “hunger hotspots”, partly due to the impact of climate extremes. Beyond conflict, climate extremes and increased climate variability are exacerbating acute food insecurity in many regions.
La Niña, a natural climate phenomenon marked by cooler ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific, is expected to persist through March 2025, with significant impacts on rainfall patterns and temperatures. While La Niña may improve agricultural prospects in some regions, it also increases the risk of flooding in parts of Nigeria, Malawi, Mozambique, South Sudan, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
UN agencies warn of the risk of famine and loss of life without immediate humanitarian efforts and concerted international action to address critical constraints and advocate for de-escalation of conflict.