Millions At Risk Of Severe Hunger As UN Identifies Nigeria, Mali, And 14 Countries Facing Food Catastrophe

 

The United Nations has issued a grave warning that millions of people across the world are on the brink of famine, following a joint assessment by two of its Rome-based agencies which identified sixteen nations as hunger crisis hotspots. The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) have raised the alarm over worsening food insecurity, largely driven by ongoing conflict, violence, and dwindling humanitarian funding.

According to the report released on Wednesday, countries such as Haiti, Mali, Palestine, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen are facing the most extreme situations, with their populations said to be at “imminent risk of catastrophic hunger.” These nations have been battered by prolonged instability, armed clashes, and economic collapse, leaving millions unable to access food or basic livelihoods.

Nigeria was named among the countries of “very high concern,” alongside Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Somalia, and Syria. The report also placed Burkina Faso, Chad, Kenya, and the Rohingya refugee population in Bangladesh on the list of nations at risk. The agencies noted that the combined effects of conflict, climate shocks, and economic strain were pushing vulnerable communities to the edge.

WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain delivered a stark message, cautioning that the world stands “on the brink of a completely preventable hunger catastrophe.” She warned that a failure to respond adequately “will only drive further instability, migration, and conflict,” stressing the urgency for immediate global action.

The report painted a troubling picture of funding shortfalls, revealing that only $10.5 billion has been received out of the $29 billion required to assist people facing severe food insecurity. Humanitarian organisations are being forced to make painful cuts that could worsen the situation. WFP confirmed that due to the funding gap, it had reduced food assistance to refugees and internally displaced persons, while some school feeding programmes in vulnerable countries have been suspended.

FAO expressed deep concern that the livelihoods of millions of small-scale farmers are being left unprotected, with critical agricultural interventions underfunded. The agency emphasised that investments in seeds, tools, and livestock health are essential to prevent the collapse of food systems. “These efforts are vital for stabilising food production and avoiding recurring crises,” FAO warned, adding that urgent funding was required before the next planting season or before new shocks emerge.

Experts say that without immediate financial commitments and coordinated humanitarian action, several regions could face famine-level conditions within months. The agencies called for a renewed sense of global solidarity to avert mass hunger, noting that the crisis remains entirely preventable if the international community acts decisively and swiftly.

The report stands as a stark reminder of the human cost of neglecting early warnings. With millions already at risk and resources stretched thin, the coming months could determine whether the world averts a full-scale hunger disaster or witnesses one unfold.