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ISLAMABAD: More than&nbsp;641,000&nbsp;people in Gaza are expected to face catastrophic food insecurity in 2025, according to the World Food Programme (WFP).As per the report published recently, the increase in hunger is due to ongoing Israeli blockade, economic instability, and climate shocks. This has pushed the region to one of the highest levels of food insecurity globally.Across 68 countries where WFP operates, 318 million people are projected to experience acute food insecurity in 2025, down from 343 million in 2024. However, this decrease reflects gaps in data from several countries, rather than a real reduction in hunger levels.In total, 41.1 million people in 51 countries are expected to face emergency or worse levels of acute food insecurity in 2025, including 38.7 million people in emergency conditions based on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC/CH) data, and 2.4 million people in severe conditions according to the CARI system. The report warned that these populations needed immediate assistance to prevent widespread malnutrition and death.Among those facing the most extreme hunger, Gaza is one of the hardest-hit areas. Along with Sudan (375,000 people), South Sudan (83,000), Yemen (41,000), Haiti (8,400 until June 2025), and Mali (2,600), Gaza remains in the grip of a catastrophic food security crisis.&nbsp;<table style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; width: 67%; margin-right: calc(33%);"><thead><tr><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 15.7363%;">Region/Country</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 23.3314%;">Acute Food Insecurity (People)</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 25.8435%;">Catastrophic Food Insecurity (People)</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 35.0555%;">Other Notes</td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 15.7363%;">Global Total</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 23.3314%;">318 million (68 countries)</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 25.8435%;">41.1 million (51 countries)</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 35.0555%;">Emergency or worse (IPC/CH Phase 4+)</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 15.7363%;">Gaza/Palestine</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 23.3314%;">N/A</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 25.8435%;">641,000</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 35.0555%;">Catastrophic levels in Gaza</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 15.7363%;">Sudan</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 23.3314%;">N/A</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 25.8435%;">375,000</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 35.0555%;">Catastrophic levels</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 15.7363%;">South Sudan</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 23.3314%;">N/A</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 25.8435%;">83,000</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 35.0555%;">Catastrophic levels</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 15.7363%;">Yemen</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 23.3314%;">N/A</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 25.8435%;">41,000</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 35.0555%;">Catastrophic levels</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 15.7363%;">Haiti</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 23.3314%;">N/A</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 25.8435%;">8,400 (until June 2025)</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 35.0555%;">Catastrophic levels</td></tr><tr><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 15.7363%;">Mali</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 23.3314%;">N/A</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 25.8435%;">2,600</td><td style="border: 1pt solid windowtext; padding: 0.75pt; width: 35.0555%;">Catastrophic levels</td></tr></tbody></table>&nbsp;In 2024, 343 million people in 74 countries were acutely food insecure, a sharp increase of 196 million since early 2020. The Global Report on Food Crises estimated that 295.3 million people were in food crisis or worse in 53 countries last year.&nbsp;

Middle East

Africa

Report says hunger is rising due to Israel’s blockade, economic instability and climate shocks, while WFP projects 318 million people facing acute food insecurity in 2025.

Over 640,000 Gazans facing acute hunger crisis, WFP report warns

ROME: The UN&#39;s World Food Programme warned Tuesday that funding cuts mean it will struggle to feed even a third of the 318 million people facing severe hunger in 2026. &quot;Declines in global humanitarian funding are forcing WFP to prioritise food assistance to roughly one third of those in need,&quot; targeting 110 million of the most vulnerable, it said in a statement. That would cost $13 billion, the agency estimated -- but warned that &quot;current funding forecasts indicate WFP may only receive close to half that goal&quot;. The WFP&#39;s largest donor is the United States which, under President Donald Trump, has cut foreign aid, including to UN agencies. Other big donors, including some European nations, have also shrunk their humanitarian budgets. The 318 million people facing acute hunger is more than double the figure recorded in 2019, as conflict, extreme weather and economic instability have taken their toll, the WFP said. UN agencies this year declared famine in Gaza and parts of Sudan, something that WFP executive director Cindy McCain called &quot;completely unacceptable in the 21st century&quot;. In a foreword to the WFP&#39;s 2026 Global Outlook report, she said the world&#39;s response &quot;remains slow, fragmented and underfunded&quot;. &quot;Global aid now covers less than half of total needs, with steep reductions in food assistance. Almost all operations have had to cut food and cash, and prioritise which vulnerable group receive help,&quot; she wrote. &quot;At the same time, attacks on aid workers have surged, revealing a growing disregard for international humanitarian law.&quot; For those facing hunger in 2026, 41 million people are classified as facing emergency or worse levels. Last week, both UN food agencies -- WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) -- warned of 16 &quot;hunger hotspots&quot; around the globe, from Haiti to South Sudan, saying that funding shortfalls were worsening already dire conditions. In a joint report, the agencies said that they had so far received only $10.5 billion out of a required $29 billion to help those at risk.

Europe

Americas

The UN’s World Food Programme warns it may only assist a third of the 318 million people facing severe hunger in 2026 due to funding cuts. These shortages, exacerbated by conflict and climate change, require urgent global support

Articles tagged with "World Food Programme"

Over 640,000 Gazans facing acute hunger crisis, WFP report warns

UN says lacks billions of dollars to feed world's hungry