The United Nations World Food Programme has disclosed that 266 million people across 47 countries and territories faced acute food insecurity in 2025, warning that armed conflicts, extreme weather conditions and economic shocks continue to undermine global efforts to tackle hunger.
The figure represents 22.9 per cent of the population assessed in the affected countries and territories, according to the 2026 Global Report on Food Crises, published by the WFP, the Food and Agriculture Organisation and other humanitarian partners.
The warning comes as the WFP’s new Executive Director, Luke J. Lindberg, assumed office on Monday, calling for increased international support to sustain humanitarian operations and deliver food assistance to vulnerable populations.
In a statement published on the agency’s website, Lindberg identified conflict as the principal driver of the most severe food crises, with extreme weather and disruptions to maritime routes worsening the situation.
“Conflict is driving people into hunger, and extreme weather and maritime chokepoints exacerbate this reality,” he said.
The WFP chief urged governments, businesses, institutions and individuals to provide the resources needed to sustain emergency food assistance, warning that humanitarian organisations could not tackle the growing crisis without broader international cooperation.
“Governments, institutions, businesses, and individuals need to stand with us, fund the work, and help get food to people before it’s too late. No more famines,” Lindberg said.
According to the WFP, its teams operate in 83 countries where hunger threatens livelihoods, with millions of people depending on humanitarian assistance to survive emergencies caused by conflict, displacement and climate-related disasters.
The 2026 Global Report on Food Crises identified conflict and insecurity as the leading drivers of acute food insecurity, affecting an estimated 147.4 million people in countries where violence was the principal cause.
Weather extremes were the main driver for another 87.5 million people, while economic shocks affected 29.8 million.
The report also documented famine conditions in parts of the Gaza Strip and Sudan in 2025, marking the first time since the report began that famine was confirmed in two separate contexts within the same year.
The findings highlight the growing challenge facing humanitarian agencies as the number of people requiring assistance continues to outstrip available resources.
The report further estimated that 35.5 million children experienced acute malnutrition in 2025, including millions facing severe forms of the condition.
Humanitarian organisations have warned that prolonged conflicts, forced displacement, restricted access to affected communities and insufficient funding are making food emergencies more difficult to resolve.
Nigeria was among 10 countries that accounted for approximately two-thirds of the people facing acute food insecurity globally in 2025, alongside Afghanistan, Bangladesh, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Pakistan, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria and Yemen.
The country’s food security challenges have been compounded by insecurity, economic pressures, displacement and climate-related shocks affecting agricultural production and livelihoods.
A report by Reuters on the 2026 global food crisis outlook said projections indicated that an additional 4.1 million people in Nigeria could face acute hunger in 2026, while insecurity in Borno State raised concerns about the possibility of catastrophic food insecurity in some communities.
The warnings underscore the importance of humanitarian assistance, agricultural support and measures to improve food availability and affordability in vulnerable communities.
Across affected regions, the WFP provides emergency food assistance while supporting recovery efforts aimed at helping communities rebuild livelihoods following conflicts, disasters and extreme weather events.
Lindberg’s assumption of office comes at a critical period for the organisation as it seeks to mobilise funding and strengthen partnerships to address rising humanitarian needs.
He succeeds Cindy McCain, who served as executive director from April 2023 to May 2026. The organisation’s Deputy Executive Director, Carl Skau, served as acting executive director during the transition.
Before joining the WFP, Lindberg served as Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the United States Department of Agriculture.
He previously founded South Dakota Trade, a public-private partnership established to expand international markets for exporters in the US state, serving as its president and chief executive officer.
He also served as chief of staff and chief strategy officer at the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
The WFP, headquartered in Rome, Italy, is the world’s largest humanitarian organisation. It provides emergency food assistance and supports communities recovering from conflicts, natural disasters and climate-related emergencies.
The organisation was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020 in recognition of its efforts to combat hunger, improve conditions for peace in conflict-affected areas and prevent the use of hunger as a weapon of war.
As Lindberg begins his tenure, the scale of global food insecurity presents a significant challenge for the organisation and its partners, particularly as humanitarian needs continue to grow amid competing demands for international assistance.
