UN warns of looming famine in Sudan, Gaza and 3 other global hunger hotspots

The United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) has warned of increasing hunger in 13 hotspots around the world, with 5 of them facing an immediate risk of starvation and death in the coming months.

A latest Hunger Hotspots report released Monday by the WFP and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns that urgent humanitarian action is needed.

It adds that there must be a coordinated international effort to de-escalate conflict, stem displacement, and mount an urgent full-scale aid response.

The WFP's Director of Food Security and Nutrition Analysis, Jean-Martin Bauer, says conflict in the main driver of crisis.

“We’ve identified five countries or territories of highest concern. This is Sudan, South Sudan, Palestine, Mali, and Haiti. And conflict is driving very high levels of acute food insecurity. That's why we highlight these places,” he said.

“There's an ongoing famine in Sudan, and also a risk of famine in the case of Gaza. And all of those are driven by conflict and lack of access for humanitarians.”

In Sudan, nearly 25 million people face acute food insecurity amid the ongoing conflict between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which is fuelling displacements.

The report says that South Sudan faces compounding threats from political tensions, the risk of flooding, and economic challenges. Nearly 60% of people will experience acute food insecurity between April and July.

In Mali, high grain prices and the ongoing conflict are eroding the coping capacities of the most vulnerable households, particularly in conflict-affected areas.

The likelihood of famine in Palestine’s Gaza Strip is growing as large-scale military operations hinder the ability to deliver vital food and non-food humanitarian assistance.

And in Haiti,  record levels of gang violence and insecurity are displacing communities and crippling aid access. Over 8,400 internally displaced persons are already facing Catastrophe levels of acute food insecurity.

The report says these devastating crises are being exacerbated by growing access constraints and critical funding shortfalls which will lead to a decline in assistance.

“That means smaller rations and reduced numbers of people receiving much-needed humanitarian assistance in some of the world's most vulnerable countries,” says Bauer.

In addition to the five worst-hit countries, Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, and Nigeria are flagged as hotspots of very high concern. Others include Burkina Faso, Chad, Somalia, and Syria.

In contrast, Ethiopia, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have been removed from the Hunger Hotspots list.