A profound escalation in global food insecurity has emerged, with nearly 295 million individuals grappling with acute hunger in 2024, a significant rise from the previous year's figure of 281.6 million. This alarming trend is primarily attributed to ongoing armed conflicts in regions such as Nigeria, Myanmar, and Sudan, as highlighted in the recently published Global Report on Food Crises 2025.
The report underscores the multifaceted challenges exacerbating this crisis. Among these, the severe impact of conflicts stands out, alongside economic instability, extreme weather conditions, and entrenched vulnerabilities like poverty and insufficient safety net investments. In regions experiencing food crises, approximately 26 countries face nutrition emergencies, while four are classified under heightened nutrition concerns. Notably, the Gaza Strip in the Middle East endures an especially dire situation, with its entire population exposed to acute food insecurity. Looking ahead, the forecast for 2025 indicates that persistent conflicts, civil unrest, and financial cutbacks—particularly by major donors like the US—will further impede recovery efforts, limit essential data collection, and intensify existing food crises.
Beyond the immediate impacts, the report delves into deeper insights regarding malnutrition, revealing that over 37 million children aged between six months and five years suffered from acute malnutrition in 2024. Of these, ten million required urgent medical intervention. Additionally, about 10.9 million pregnant or breastfeeding women across 22 affected countries were acutely malnourished. The analysis also pinpoints specific hotspots where the burden of food insecurity and malnutrition is most pronounced, including nations such as Nigeria, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Syria. These countries collectively account for more than 65% of the total population affected by high levels of acute food insecurity.
Addressing food and nutrition crises necessitates a comprehensive approach that tackles their root causes. The interplay of multiple factors, including armed conflicts, adverse weather patterns, and economic shocks, demands coordinated global efforts. By fostering collaboration among development and humanitarian organizations, leveraging advanced data analysis, and ensuring sustained funding, it is possible to mitigate the devastating effects of these crises. The commitment to evidence-based policies and strategic investments offers hope for alleviating suffering and building resilience in vulnerable communities worldwide.