Global hunger hits new high amid conflict, extreme weather: UN
More than 295 million people faced acute hunger in 2024, with the outlook ‘bleak’ due to funding cuts for aid efforts.
Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, in Jabalia,
Palestinians wait to receive food cooked by a charity kitchen, in Jabalia, in the northern Gaza Strip, on May 14, 2025 [File: Mahmoud Issa/Reuters]
Global hunger hit a new high last year with the outlook for 2025 “bleak,” according to a United Nations-backed report.
Acute food insecurity and child malnutrition rose for a sixth consecutive year in 2024, affecting more than 295 million people across 53 countries and territories, the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises (GFRC), released on Friday, warned.
Conflict, weather extremes and economic shocks were identified as the main drivers.
The report, which provides its analysis through a collaborative effort with United Nations agencies, states that the rise in hunger levels of 5 percent over 2023 was the sixth in a row.
Overall, 22.6 percent of populations in the worst-hit regions experienced crisis-level hunger or worse.
Conflict was the leading cause of hunger, affecting nearly 140 million people across 20 countries in 2024, including areas facing “catastrophic” levels of food insecurity in Gaza, South Sudan, Haiti and Mali. Sudan has confirmed famine conditions.
Economic shocks, such as inflation and currency devaluation, helped push 59.4 million people into food crises in 15 countries, including Syria and Yemen.
Extreme weather, particularly El Nino-induced droughts and floods, shunted 18 countries into crisis, affecting more than 96 million people, especially in Southern Africa, Southern Asia, and the Horn of Africa
Muhammad Mujahid Abbaty
