Global Hunger Deepens in 2024 as Conflicts, Displacement and Climate Shocks Fuel Crisis
3 min read
UN report reveals 295 million people faced acute hunger in 2024—up 13.7 million from the previous year—as conflict, displacement, and climate change drive global food insecurity.
The global hunger crisis worsened significantly in 2024, with 295 million people suffering from acute food insecurity across 53 countries, according to a grim report released Friday by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and its partners.
This marks an increase of 13.7 million from 2023 and represents the sixth consecutive year of rising hunger in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions.
The figures come from the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises, issued by the Global Network Against Food Crises (GNAFC)—a coalition that includes the FAO, the World Food Programme (WFP), and a range of governmental and non-governmental organizations working to end food emergencies.
In a foreword to the report, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the statistics “an unflinching indictment of a world dangerously off course.”
“Hunger and malnutrition are spreading faster than our ability to respond,” Guterres warned. “Yet globally, a third of all food produced is lost or wasted.”
Funding Shortfalls Undermine Response
The report highlights a worsening humanitarian funding gap as one of the major factors impeding global response efforts. Despite escalating needs, funding for food and nutrition programs has dropped dramatically, leaving millions without sufficient assistance.
“This shortfall in funding comes at the worst possible time,” said a spokesperson for the FAO. “We’re seeing more hunger, more displacement, and more conflict — all while resources are shrinking.”
Conflict: The Leading Driver
While multiple causes contribute to food insecurity, armed conflict remains the primary driver of hunger in most of the worst-hit regions.
In 2024, famine was confirmed in parts of Sudan, while catastrophic levels of hunger were reported in the Gaza Strip, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali.
In Gaza, famine was narrowly avoided thanks to a temporary surge in humanitarian aid. However, the report warns that the territory could slip back into crisis between May and September 2025 if the military blockade and operations persist.
Across many conflict zones, civilians are caught between violence, displacement, and a near-total collapse of essential services.
Forced Displacement and Economic Shock
Forced displacement added another layer of vulnerability. Of the 128 million people forcibly displaced in 2024, nearly 95 million were living in countries already in food crisis. This includes refugees, internally displaced persons, and asylum seekers, many of whom rely entirely on humanitarian aid to survive.
Economic instability also triggered food insecurity in 15 countries, affecting more than 59 million people. Countries such as Afghanistan, Syria, South Sudan, and Yemen experienced a combination of currency devaluation, rising food prices, and disrupted markets, pushing millions into deeper hunger.
Climate Shocks Worsen Outlook
In addition to conflict and economic turmoil, extreme weather events further intensified food crises. Prolonged droughts, floods, and cyclones pushed 18 countries into emergency-level food insecurity, impacting over 96 million people.
The Horn of Africa, Southern Africa, and Southern Asia were among the most severely affected, where erratic rainfall patterns and crop failures devastated livelihoods and food production.
“Increasingly, communities are being hit by multiple shocks at once—conflict, climate, and inflation,” said a WFP official. “This convergence is breaking the resilience of families who were already barely surviving.”
A Call for Urgent Global Action
The report’s findings underscore the urgent need for international solidarity, sustained humanitarian funding, and long-term investment in resilience-building programs.
“The scale of the crisis demands not only more aid, but smarter strategies,” said the FAO Director-General. “We must support local food production, strengthen early warning systems, and protect the most vulnerable from the compounded effects of conflict and climate change.”
Without urgent and coordinated action, the report warns, millions more could fall into extreme hunger or famine conditions in 2025.
About The Author
