In 2022, 258 million people faced high levels of acute food insecurity, in 58 countries/territories, with available data. This was up from 193 million in 53 countries in 2021. It marked the fourth consecutive year of rising numbers of people in Crisis or worse (IPC/CH Phase 3 or above or equivalent) due to persistently high numbers in some countries/territories, worsening situations in others, as well as increased analysis. As of August 2023, the number of people facing Emergency (IPC/CH Phase 4) reached 33.6 million people in 39 countries. IPC/CH Phase 4 refers to an extremely severe situation where urgent action is needed to save lives and livelihoods, and the final alert to avoid extreme acute food insecurity outcomes. At the same time, about 128 600 people were estimated or projected to be in Catastrophe (IPC/CH Phase 5) in four countries, namely Burkina Faso, Mali, South Sudan and Somalia. In the last quarter of 2023, the escalation of the conflict in Palestine led to a severe deterioration in acute food insecurity. Hostilities, including besiegement of the entire population, have caused catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity across the Gaza Strip. The risk of Famine increases each day that the current situation of intense hostilities and restricted humanitarian access persists or worsens. Between December 2023 and February 2024, the entire population in the Gaza Strip (about 2.2 million people) is projected to be in Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above). Moreover, about 50 percent of the population (1.17 million people) are in Emergency (IPC Phase 4) and at least one in four households (more than half a million people) is facing catastrophic conditions (IPC Phase 5). These are characterized by households experiencing an extreme lack of food, starvation and exhaustion of coping capacities. The forecast is alarming, and projections indicate the situation may deteriorate further. At the same time, humanitarian operations remain underfunded and hampered by security and access constraints. While famine can be averted, swift and concerted international action is required to address its root causes and ensure humanitarian aid reaches people in need without delay.