UNITED NATIONS – Haiti has been identified among 16 countries and territories worldwide by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) of a major hunger emergency, with acute food insecurity set to worsen between now and May 2026, putting millions of lives at risk.
Haitian seeking medical treatmentA report released by the two UN agencies identifies six that are at the highest risk of famine or catastrophic hunger, namely Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, Mali, Haiti, and Yemen.
The report notes that in these areas, some communities are projected to reach famine or near-famine conditions.
Other countries of very high concern include the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, and Afghanistan. Additional hotspots include Burkina Faso, Chad, Kenya, and the situation of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
The UN said acute food insecurity means families cannot meet their basic food needs and often resort to desperate measures, such as skipping meals or selling essential possessions. At Phase 4 (Emergency) and Phase 5 (Catastrophe/Famine), hunger becomes life-threatening.
“Famine is not inevitable. We have the tools and the knowledge to prevent it, but we need the resources and the political will to act now,” said Cindy McCain, the WFP’s Executive Director.
The agencies say children are especially vulnerable. Malnutrition weakens immunity, making them more susceptible to disease and death. The report warns that delayed action will cost lives and increase humanitarian costs.
The report highlights four main drivers, namely conflict and violence, the leading cause in 14 of the 16 hotspots, economic shocks with fragile economies, high debt, and soaring food prices; climate extremes such as floods, droughts, and cyclones linked to La Niña conditions and reduced humanitarian aid where funding shortfalls have forced ration cuts and limited malnutrition treatment.
“Conflict remains the single biggest driver of hunger,” said Dongyu Qu, the FAO Director-General. “But climate shocks and economic instability are compounding the crisis, leaving millions with no safety net.”
The two UN agencies are calling for urgent action to prevent famine. They are urging humanitarian assistance to save lives and livelihoods, early interventions before crises escalate and investment in resilience to tackle root causes, not just symptoms.
The agencies stress that the international community faces a narrowing window to act. Failure to respond will deepen hunger, destabilize regions, and lead to preventable deaths.
