GENEVA: UN famine Warning – Millions of people across at least a dozen countries are at risk of famine, the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) and Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) warned Wednesday, urging urgent funding to address critical shortfalls in international aid.
Famine Risk in Multiple Countries
The joint UN report identified Sudan, Gaza, Haiti, Mali, South Sudan, and Yemen as facing “an imminent risk of catastrophic hunger,” signaling famine conditions. Another six countries — Afghanistan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, and Syria — were classified as “very high concern” due to escalating food insecurity.
Funding Gap Threatens Emergency Response
The agencies warned that global aid cuts are severely limiting emergency operations, forcing drastic ration reductions and leaving vulnerable populations, including refugees, without sufficient food support. According to the report, by the end of October, only $10.5 billion of the $29 billion required for emergency relief had been received.
Call for Global Support
WFP and FAO appealed to governments and international donors to close the funding gap, emphasizing that without immediate assistance, millions could face starvation. “Humanitarian aid is being stretched to its limits, and the most at-risk communities are paying the highest price,” the report said.
International Implications
The agencies underscored that food crises in conflict-affected regions not only cause immediate suffering but can destabilize entire regions, increasing migration pressures and worsening socio-political tensions.
