The world’s hunger crisis has reached a new and alarming threshold, with nearly 300 million people suffering acute food insecurity across 53 countries in 2024, according to a sobering report released Friday by the United Nations and its humanitarian partners.
The Global Report on Food Crises reveals a stark reality: 295 million people are battling severe hunger, an increase of 13.7 million from the previous year and marking six consecutive years of escalating food insecurity in the world’s most vulnerable regions.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the growing crisis as “another unflinching indictment of a world dangerously off course,” highlighting that global food loss and waste continue to undermine efforts to combat hunger.
Conflicts remain the primary driver of food insecurity, with devastating humanitarian consequences. Sudan confirmed famine conditions in 2024, while catastrophic food shortages were documented in the Gaza Strip, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali.
The report illuminates the compounding challenges facing displaced populations. Of 128 million people forcibly displaced in 2024, nearly 95 million resided in countries already struggling with food crises.
Climate and economic shocks further exacerbated the situation. Extreme weather events impacted over 96 million people across 18 countries, primarily in Southern Asia, Southern Africa, and the Horn of Africa.
FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu emphasized the urgent need for strategic intervention. “Investment in emergency agriculture is critical,” he stated, “not just as a response, but as the most cost-effective solution to deliver significant, long-lasting impact.”
As humanitarian funding dramatically reduces, the international community faces mounting pressure to address this escalating global emergency.
The report serves as a critical wake-up call, underscoring the immediate and pressing need for coordinated, comprehensive global action to combat hunger and prevent further humanitarian catastrophe.
