Highlights:

As of August 2026, acute food insecurity remains at very high levels across many countries, according to the mid-year update of the Global Report on Food Crises 2026. The report points to conflict, insecurity and weather extremes as the main drivers, aggravated by high food and fertiliser prices. At the same time, new risks linked to the climate phenomenon El Niño, the Middle East conflicts and reduced humanitarian funding are expected to worsen conditions further in late 2026 and into 2027. 

Risk of Famine was identified in three countries affected by highly volatile conditions – Somalia, South Sudan and the Sudan – despite an overall decrease in the number of people facing Catastrophe conditions (IPC/CH Phase 5) compared with 2025. Catastrophe is the most severe level of acute food insecurity according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a multi-stakeholder initiative that informs food crisis response globally.

The reduced number of people in Phase 5 were recorded only in a few specific locations, notably in the Sudan and Gaza, where better security and access to humanitarian assistance helped improve conditions. 

The report highlights other concerning patterns about the evolution of acute food insecurity and malnutrition in countries and territories facing food crises: 

The nutrition outlook worsened in several countries. Kenya, Somalia and South Sudan were classified as facing very severe nutrition crises, with some areas reaching Extremely Critical conditions (IPC Acute Malnutrition Phase 5, which refers to severe wasting, bilateral oedema, and critical mortality rates).

These aggravating trends reflect a combination of worsening acute food insecurity, high disease prevalence, poor infant and young child feeding practices, limited access to health, nutrition and WASH services (water, sanitation and hygiene), humanitarian access constraints and funding shortfalls. 

What drivers are likely to intensify food insecurity? 

The report identifies several emerging drivers likely to worsen food insecurity in the coming months. El Niño is already established and is expected to persist through February 2027, increasing the likelihood of droughts, floods and other weather shocks that could disrupt agricultural production, food systems and livelihoods. 

In the Horn of Africa, this includes worsening risks in Somalia. in Southern Africa, countries such as Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe may face agricultural drought and reduced pasture availability. 

The Middle East conflict is also increasing pressure on vulnerable countries through higher fuel and transport costs, trade disruptions and reduced import capacity. Countries such as Lebanon, the Sudan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Bangladesh and Pakistan are identified as particularly exposed because of import dependence, remittance links and higher input costs. 

At the same time, financing conditions are worsening. Net official development assistance from Development Assistance Committee (DAC) countries is projected to fall by further 6.9% to USD 152 billion in 2026, the lowest level since 2014 and the third consecutive annual decline. Humanitarian Official Development Assistance (ODA) is projected to fall by 40.3% between 2024 and 2026, while food aid is expected to decline by 44.5%. These cuts are expected to weaken assistance, nutrition support, monitoring systems and resilience-building efforts in countries already facing food crises.