LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA) – Millions of people living in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions could face worsening hunger and an increased risk of famine in the coming months, the United Nations has warned.
The alert was contained in the latest Hunger Hotspots Report jointly released by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP), which identified 13 countries and territories where food insecurity is expected to deteriorate between June and November 2026.
Among the countries highlighted is Nigeria, where conditions in parts of the North-East have raised fresh concerns about the possibility of catastrophic hunger.
According to the report, Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen and Palestine remain the world’s most critical hunger hotspots, while Nigeria and Somalia have now been elevated to the highest-risk category.
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“Nigeria has entered the highest-risk category after forecasts showed parts of Borno could face catastrophic hunger,” the report stated.
The UN agencies noted that conflict continues to be the primary driver of food crises, affecting 12 of the 13 locations identified in the report.
Speaking on the findings, Acting Executive Director of the World Food Programme, Carl Skau, said ongoing conflicts, economic shocks and climate-related disasters were pushing millions of families deeper into hunger.
“Conflict, shocks and disasters are forcing families to make impossible decisions about who gets to eat and who goes to bed hungry,” Skau said.
The report also raised concerns over declining humanitarian funding, warning that cuts to food assistance programmes could further worsen conditions in already fragile communities.
According to the agencies, support for emergency food aid, nutrition programmes and agricultural interventions in crisis-hit countries fell by an estimated 59 per cent between 2022 and 2025—the sharpest decline recorded in the past decade.
Despite growing needs, an estimated 266 million people across the identified hotspots are currently experiencing severe food insecurity.
FAO Deputy Director-General Beth Bechdol stressed the importance of urgent intervention to prevent the situation from escalating.
“The challenge is whether we act early enough and at the necessary scale,” Bechdol said.
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She added that emergency agricultural support remains one of the most effective tools for helping vulnerable households maintain food production and reduce dependence on humanitarian assistance.
The report further warned that emerging crises and worsening economic conditions could intensify food insecurity in the months ahead.
Director of WFP’s Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Service, Jean-Martin Bauer, said economic instability and climate-related challenges were compounding existing vulnerabilities.
“Economic shocks are compounding food insecurity, and climate change and climate variability are also further intensifying the situation,” Bauer said.
The FAO and WFP urged governments, donors and humanitarian partners to scale up support for affected populations to avert a further deterioration of the global hunger crisis.
NAN
