A recent analysis by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and World Food Programme (WFP) reveals a troubling forecast for acute food insecurity in war-stricken Sudan and nearly two dozen other countries over the next six months.
The findings, detailed in the latest Hunger Hotspots report, indicate that conflict and violence primarily drive this impending crisis.
The report highlights that an ongoing 18-month conflict in Sudan has severely disrupted food systems, displaced populations, and obstructed humanitarian access.
Additionally, extreme weather events, including flooding, have exacerbated food insecurity across the region.
FAO and WFP experts identified 22 critical hunger hotspots, projecting that acute food insecurity will worsen from November 2024 to May 2025.
Among these, Sudan, South Sudan, Mali, Palestine, and Haiti face the highest levels of concern, with populations at risk of famine or enduring catastrophic hunger.
Immediate humanitarian aid is critical to prevent further suffering and loss of life.Qu Dongyu, director general of the FAO, emphasized the dire situation, stating, “People are experiencing an extreme lack of food and face unprecedented enduring starvation.”
Sudan’s humanitarian crisis has escalated, with reports of daily child fatalities due to hunger.
As warfare continues, further mass displacement and a growing regional humanitarian crisis are expected, with increasing cross-border movements to Chad, South Sudan, Egypt, and beyond.
The report also highlights the significant impact of climate events, particularly a projected La Niña phenomenon, which could exacerbate flooding in certain areas while causing drought in others.
The analysis calls for immediate humanitarian action and international cooperation to address the severe access constraints contributing to this crisis.
The urgent need for scaled-up assistance is crucial to protect livelihoods and improve access to food in the most affected regions, as the report underscores the complex interplay of conflict, economic challenges, and climate change leading to a hunger crisis of unprecedented magnitude.