Acute food insecurity is rising at a record pace, with nearly 300 million people now at risk of starvation, according to the latest Global Report on Food Crises. The number of people facing high levels of food insecurity increased by 13.7 million in 2023, marking the sixth consecutive year of worsening conditions.
Conflict, climate shocks, economic instability, and deep cuts to humanitarian aid – particularly from USAID – are key drivers of the crisis. The report reveals that 295.3 million people across 53 countries are experiencing acute food insecurity, with the worst cases — classed as “catastrophe” — more than doubling last year.
Gaza and Sudan are the most affected, with over 95% of those in catastrophic conditions living in these regions. In Sudan, over 24 million people face acute food insecurity due to ongoing civil war, while Gaza’s 2.1 million residents are at critical risk of famine amid continued Israeli blockade and aid restrictions.
The crisis is also deepening in countries like Haiti, Mali, Myanmar, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the climate crisis exacerbating food shortages in areas such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.