Highlights:

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) identify 13 hunger hotspots in this analysis covering June to November 2026 where acute food insecurity is expected to deteriorate significantly during the outlook period, prompting an early warning for urgent humanitarian action.

Compared with the previous edition, the Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen and Palestine remain at the highest level of concern. Nigeria has been newly added to this group following projections indicating that populations in Borno State may face Catastrophe (Cadre Harmonisé [CH] Phase 5) levels of acute food insecurity during the outlook period. Somalia has also been added, with populations in Burhakaba District facing a risk of Famine. These contexts demand the most immediate attention.

A risk of Famine persists or was identified in four countries or territories in 2026. In the Sudan, a risk of Famine was identified in 14 areas in North Darfur,

South Darfur and South Kordofan through September 2026 and expected to persist in 13 areas during the harvest through to January 2027. Similarly, according to the latest analysis in South Sudan, four counties in Jonglei and Upper Nile states are projected to face a risk of Famine through July 2026. In addition, the entire Gaza Strip faced a risk of Famine through mid-April 2026 – though no projection was available covering the outlook period at the time of writing – and a risk of Famine was identified in one location in the Bay region of Somalia through June 2026.

Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo remain hotspots of very high concern. The Ebola outbreak reported in May in the Democratic Republic of the Congo poses an additional risk to livelihoods and may further worsen acute food insecurity. Haiti has been added to this list and is no longer classified as a hotspot of highest concern, as it is now assessed to face a less severe risk, reflecting recent – though limited and localized – improvements mainly due to a slowdown in annual inflation, generally favourable winter agricultural conditions, and improved access along some road corridors.

Lebanon and Madagascar have been added to the list of hotspots as a result of the escalation of hostilities in late February 2026 and adverse, erratic weather conditions, respectively, while Myanmar has been reclassified from a hotspot of very high concern to a hotspot. Mali remains a hotspot, but it is no longer classified as a hotspot of highest concern due to a reduction in the number of people projected to face catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity during the outlook period.

Armed conflict and violence remain the primary drivers of acute food insecurity, affecting 12 of the 13 contexts. At the same time, global economic stress continues to compound vulnerabilities, deepening acute food insecurity across several hotspots. Weather extremes and increasing climate variability are further intensifying acute food insecurity. Climate forecasts indicate a transition towards El Niño conditions during the outlook period, likely resulting in uneven rainfall patterns that may disrupt agricultural production.

Despite escalating needs, humanitarian assistance to food sectors in crisis contexts has declined by an estimated 59 percent between 2022 and 2025, returning to levels last seen in 2016–2017.

In this constrained environment, stronger collaboration between humanitarian and development actors is essential to maximize impact and avoid fragmented responses.

Preventing famine must be central to these efforts. Modern famines are almost always human-made, foreseeable, and preventable. Famine is often the result of conflict and constraints on access, and exacerbated by critical gaps in collective response, including weak coordination, delayed action, and insufficient funding.

The report provides country-specific recommendations for immediate emergency responses alongside anticipatory measures designed to meet urgent needs while preventing further deterioration.