Countries requiring external assistance for food
Countries in crisis requiring external assistance for food are expected to lack the resources to deal with reported critical problems of food insecurity. The list below covers crises related to lack of food availability, widespread lack of access to food, or severe but localized problems. GIEWS updates this list three times a year (four times before 2023).
July 2026
(total: 41 countries)
Nature of Food Insecurity
Main Reasons
New entry
Drought conditions, high food prices
- About 3.7 million (over 20 percent of the analysed population) were projected to be acutely food insecure between April and June 2026, a deterioration compared with the estimate of 3.3 million for the January–March period. However, the projection for April–June was based on weather forecasts pointing to below-average rainfall amounts during the March–May long-rains season, which did not materialize. Instead, above-average rainfall amounts across most arid and semi-arid lands benefited crops and livestock production, and acute food insecurity conditions may not have worsened as the figures indicate.
Drought conditions, high food prices, civil insecurity
- According to the latest Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, about 6 million people (about 30 percent of the population) were estimated to face to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse levels of acute food insecurity between April and June 2026, with Burhakaba District in Bay Region assessed as at risk of famine over the same period. The difficult food security situation is mainly due to consecutive poor rainy seasons, including the failed October to December 2025 Deyr and the poor April to June 2026 Gu, which severely affected crop and livestock production.
Conflict, displacements, high food prices
- According to the latest IPC analysis, about 19.5 million people, over 40 percent of the analysed population, were projected to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse levels of acute food insecurity between February and May 2026. This figure includes about 5 million people in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) and 135 000 people facing IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe). Although a nationwide projection covering the lean season between June and September was not possible due to data gaps, during this period the acute food security situation is expected to seasonally worsen and, under a plausible worst‑case scenario, involving intensified conflict and increased displacements, 14 areas in North Darfur, South Darfur and South Kordofan states are at risk of famine.
Weather extremes, high food prices
- According to the latest IPC analysis, about 1.14 million people, 9 percent of the analysed population, were projected to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and above levels of acute food insecurity between January and March 2026. The main drivers were livelihood losses due to climatic shocks and protracted macroeconomic challenges, including currency depreciation. Furthermore, currency weakness contributed to pushing up prices of imported fuel prices, which inflated production and transport costs, and contributed to higher prices of locally produced staples.
Conflict, high food prices
- According to the latest IPC analysis, published in June 2026, the number of severely food insecure people (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] and above) is estimated at 2 million (about 33 percent of the total population) between April and August 2026, including around 262 000 people in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency). The situation primarily reflects the impact of the persistent armed conflict, continued population displacement, high food and fuel prices.
- As of March, more than 428 000 people were internally displaced because of civil insecurity and armed violence, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Refugee influx, civil insecurity, adverse weather conditions
- According to the latest Cadre Harmonisé (CH) analysis, nearly 3 million people are estimated to face severe acute food insecurity (CH Phase 3 [Crisis] and above) between June and August 2026, including about 264 000 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency). The continued influx of refugees from the Sudan has intensified pressure on scarce resources in eastern host communities, compounded by worsening insecurity, while acute food insecurity also remains a concern in the conflict-affected Lac Province, where about 220 000 people remain internally displaced. Adverse weather conditions affected agricultural production in several areas in 2025, reducing household incomes.
Conflict
- According to the latest IPC assessment released May 2026, 26.5 million people (23 percent of the analysed population) were projected to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and above levels of acute food insecurity between January and June 2026, including 3.6 million people facing IPC Phase 4 (Emergency), mainly concentrated in North Kivu, South Kivu, Ituri and Tanganyika provinces, which together account for approximately 9.9 million people in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or above. The escalation of the ongoing conflict in several eastern regions, along with consequent population displacements, and high staple food prices, are likely to further worsen the situation.
- As of February 2026, about 6.5 million people were displaced and around 604 000 people were refugees, placing the country among the largest internal displacement crises at the global level. In addition, the ongoing Ebola outbreak poses further risks to acute food insecurity by straining health systems and livelihoods.
Adverse weather
- About 230 000 people, 20 percent of the analysed population, were projected to face acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] and above) between July and December 2025, reflecting frequent weather shocks, low purchasing power and a significant reduction of humanitarian assistance due to funding cuts.
Adverse weather conditions, conflict, high food prices
- Although the latest acute food insecurity estimates were published in 2024, conditions are anticipated to deteriorate between June and September 2026, during the lean season, and thereafter improve from September onwards, following the major Meher harvest that will increase domestic food supplies. In southern and southeastern pastoral areas, the acute food insecurity situation is mixed, with likely improvements reported in southern areas, reflecting favourable March to May Gu/Genna rains, while the situation has likely deteriorated in eastern areas, where poor seasonal rains affected livestock.
Refugee influx, adverse weather conditions
- Over 500 000 people are estimated to face severe acute food insecurity between June and August 2026, including nearly 13 900 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency). Sustained inflows of people fleeing the conflict in Mali increased the number of registered refugees and asylum seekers to about 184 000 as of early May 2026, with approximately 90 percent concentrated in Hodh Ech Chargui Region, increasing pressure on the limited resources in host communities. Furthermore, in some agropastoral areas, rainfall deficits affected production in 2025, worsening local acute food insecurity conditions.
Civil insecurity, adverse weather conditions
- Over 2.4 million people are estimated to face severe acute food insecurity between June and August 2026, including about 18 600 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency). Escalating conflict has disrupted livelihoods and triggered the internal displacement of about 548 000 people, as of April 2026. Reduced agricultural production due to civil insecurity and adverse weather conditions, together with conflict-related market disruptions and low purchasing power, have constrained access to food. Concerns remain regarding the food security situation of the 447 000 refugees and asylum seekers hosted in the country as of late April 2026.
Conflict, macroeconomic challenges, adverse weather
- About 36.3 million people are estimated to face severe acute food insecurity between June and August 2026, including nearly 2.1 million people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency) and approximately 10 300 people in CH Phase 5 (Catastrophe) in Borno State. Conflict and civil insecurity persist in northern states, severely disrupting livelihoods and markets, and causing the internal displacement of 3.7 million people, with particular concern for households in inaccessible areas. Rising inflation and weakening household purchasing power have constrained access to food. Nationwide, floods affected about 403 000 people in 2025 and, together with dry spells, led to localized production shortfalls.
Economic downturn, conflict, floods
- About 7.8 million people, 55 percent of the total population, were projected to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse levels of acute food insecurity during the lean season between April and July 2026, including about 73 000 people facing IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe). A risk of Famine in Luakpiny/Nasir and Ulang counties in Upper Nile State and in Nyirol and Akobo counties in Jonglei State has been identified under a plausible worst-case scenario. The situation reflects a protracted macroeconomic crisis, resulting in soaring food prices, escalating conflict and localized livelihood losses due to floods.
Conflict
- No recent data on acute food insecurity are available. However, high levels of severe acute food insecurity are likely to persist due to the ongoing conflict in northern and eastern regions, where disruptions to livelihoods and markets, coupled with high food prices, constrain access to food. Concerns also remain for displaced populations.
Civil insecurity, high food prices
- According to the October 2025 CH analysis, about 2.8 million people (10 percent of the analysed population) are projected to face severe acute food insecurity (CH Phase 3 [Crisis] and above) between June and August 2026, including about 250 000 in CH Phase 4 (Emergency), as a result of the effects of the conflict, sociopolitical unrest and high food prices, as well as floods that caused population displacements, and agricultural damage and losses.
Adverse weather conditions
- An estimated 334 000 people were projected to face acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] and above) between October 2025 and March 2026, owing to high food prices and localized weather‑related production losses. Conditions are expected to improve in 2026/27, amid expectations of an above‑average cereal harvest in 2026. Looking further ahead, the potential negative impact of El Niño-associated dry weather conditions from late 2026 poses a risk to agricultural production and could, by extension, worsen acute food insecurity in 2027.
Adverse weather, floods, high food prices
- Nearly 1.7 million people are estimated to face severe acute food insecurity between June and August 2026, including about 91 700 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency). Elevated food inflation rates are constraining households’ access to food. Pest outbreaks and adverse weather conditions caused crop losses in several areas in 2025, while flooding affected 60 000 people, destroying dwellings, disrupting livelihoods and triggering displacements.
Adverse weather conditions
- A projected 334 000 people were assessed to face acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] between October 2025 and March 2026, owing to the impact of high food prices and localized weather-related production losses. Conditions are foreseen to improve in 2026/27, amid expectations of an above-average cereal harvest in 2026. However, the potential negative impact of El Niño-associated dry weather conditions from late 2026 poses a risk to agricultural production, which could, in turn, worsen acute food insecurity in 2027.
Adverse weather conditions
- Over 506 000 people are estimated to face severe acute food insecurity (CH Phase 3 [Crisis]) between June and August 2026, including over 2 700 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency), mainly due to extreme weather events, including floods and windstorms, and pest and disease outbreaks, which resulted in localized crop losses.
Localized conflict, economic and political instability, high food prices
- As of April 2026, more than 110 000 refugees were registered in the country. Humanitarian funding shortfalls continue to constrain assistance to vulnerable populations, including migrants, refugees and internally displaced people.
Adverse weather conditions
- The latest IPC analysis projected that 1.8 million people would face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) levels of acute food insecurity between February and April 2026, an unchanged prevalence compared to the previous year. A combination of cyclones, flooding and extended dry weather conditions has adversely impacted cereal production in 2026, and an anticipated output below the five-year average is likely to be a key driver of acute food insecurity in 2026/27.
High food prices, adverse weather conditions
- The latest IPC assessment for the October 2025 to March 2026 period projected that 4 million people would face acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] or above). Although overall conditions are expected to improve in 2026/27, on account of an anticipated upturn in cereal production and softening prices, pockets of acute food insecurity, notably in southern districts, are expected to persist. Looking ahead, the potential negative impact of El Niño-associated dry weather conditions from late 2026 poses a risk to agricultural production, and a resulting downturn could trigger a deterioration in acute food insecurity in 2027.
Conflict, macroeconomic challenges
- Nearly 1.6 million people are estimated to face severe acute food insecurity between June and August 2026, including about 56 700 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency). An escalation of the conflict has severely disrupted livelihoods and trade, and concerns persist regarding the food security situation of displaced populations, including about 415 000 IDPs and over 182 000 refugees and asylum seekers. Fuel shortages and high prices, together with a domestic electricity crisis, further constrained economic activities, while humanitarian assistance has also been limited by physical access constraints and funding shortfalls.
Insecurity in northern areas, adverse weather conditions
- The number of people facing acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis]) between April and September 2026 is projected at 529 000, a lower prevalence relative to the previous year. Weather shocks in the south and the ongoing conflict in northern provinces are key drivers of the current acute food insecurity conditions. Looking ahead, the potential negative impact of El Niño-associated dry weather conditions from late 2026 poses a risk to both agricultural production and a resulting downturn could worsen acute food insecurity in 2027.
Adverse weather conditions
- The number of people facing acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis]) was projected at 408 000 between April and June 2026, below the previous year’s prevalence, primarily reflecting an upturn in agricultural production. Given that the country is expected to harvest a second consecutive above-average cereal crop in 2026, conditions may improve further in 2026/27.
Adverse weather conditions, floods
- About 806 000 people are estimated to face severe acute food insecurity between June and August 2026, including approximately 30 100 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency). These conditions reflect below-average cereal production in 2025. Rainfall deficits and floods disrupted livelihoods and affected production in localized agropastoral areas.
Adverse weather conditions, macroeconomic challenges
- Over 1.3 million people are estimated face severe acute food insecurity between June and August 2026, including about 135 000 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency). This situation mainly reflects localized shortfalls in agricultural production due to adverse weather conditions, including flooding. Furthermore, prices of staple foods remained elevated in early 2026 and, combined with the low purchasing power, constrained households’ access to food.
Adverse weather conditions, insecurity, high food prices
- According to the latest IPC analysis, conducted in the agropastoral Karamoja Region, about 474 000 people (32 percent of the analysed population) are facing acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] and above) between April and July 2026. These conditions reflect a below-average 2025 harvest, which resulted in a faster-than-normal depletion of household food stocks, and high food prices.
Adverse weather conditions, high food prices
- According to the latest IPC analysis, conducted in 30 vulnerable rural districts of mainland Tanzania, 507 000 people (5 percent of the analysed population) are projected to face severe acute food insecurity between June 2026 and January 2027. The main drivers are crop production shortfalls in 2024 and 2025, owing to adverse weather conditions and outbreaks of pests and diseases, and high food prices.
Localized adverse weather conditions
- The number of people facing acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis]) was projected at 1.7 million between October 2025 and March 2026. Given the expected record cereal harvest in 2026 and moderating food prices, conditions are expected to improve from this level. However, there are likely to be pockets of acute food insecurity, notably in areas that received less favourable rains, which curbed harvests, while the potential negative impact of El Niño‑associated dry weather conditions from late 2026 poses a risk to agricultural production and, by extension, to food security in 2027.
Localized adverse weather conditions
- Food price inflation has eased considerably since peaking in mid-2025 and, given expectations of a likely second consecutive above-average harvest in 2026, there may be improvements in acute food insecurity in 2026. However, there are likely to be pockets of acute food insecurity, notably in areas affected by unfavourable weather conditions that curbed harvests, while the potential negative impact of El Niño-associated dry weather conditions from late 2026 poses a risk to both agricultural production and, by extension, to food security in 2027.
Conflict, protracted economic crisis
- According to the latest IPC analysis, about 1.24 million people, including Lebanese residents and refugees from the Syrian Arab Republic, are projected to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse levels of acute food insecurity between April 2026 and August 2026. The renewed conflict escalation caused large-scale population displacement and livelihood disruption, while high food and fuel prices further constrained household purchasing power, limiting access to food.
Conflict, economic collapse
- According to the latest IPC analysis, in the Gaza Strip, about 1.6 million people were projected to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse levels of acute food insecurity between December 2025 and mid‑April 2026, including 571 000 people in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) and 1 900 people in IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe). Acute food insecurity is expected to remain severe due to the ongoing conflict, restrictions on humanitarian and commercial supplies, and the collapse of livelihoods and food systems.
Social unrest, economic crisis
- Latest available data indicate that about 7.2 million people in the country were projected to face acute food insecurity in 2025. High food prices, limited livelihood opportunities, population displacement and reduced humanitarian assistance are expected to continue constraining access to food in 2026.
Economic deterioration, localized conflict
- Acute food insecurity is expected to remain severe in 2026, driven by a prolonged conflict, economic deterioration and constrained humanitarian assistance. According to the latest IPC analysis, about 18.3 million people were projected to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse between September 2025 and February 2026, including 5.5 million people in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) and about 41 000 people in IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe).
Economic downturn, reduction in humanitarian funding
- The latest IPC analysis indicates that 13.8 million people, 28 percent of the analysed population, are projected to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) levels of acute food insecurity between April and September 2026. This situation is largely attributed to persistent economic challenges, limited livelihood opportunities, high domestic prices of basic food items and severe humanitarian funding shortfalls. Since October 2023, about 5.4 million Afghans returned to the country by mid‑February 2026, mainly from Pakistan and the Islamic Republic of Iran, following intensified deportations of foreign nationals without valid documentation.
Economic constraints, reduction in humanitarian funding
- About 1.2 million displaced Myanmar nationals reside in the country, mainly in Cox’s Bazar District and Bhashan Char.
Conflict, economic constraints, high food prices
- According to the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP), about 12.4 million people (23 percent of the population analysed) are projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity (equivalent to IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] or above) during the June to August 2026 lean season, including almost 1 million people in Emergency (equivalent to IPC Phase 4) . The main drivers of this situation are the conflict, which continues to limit livelihood opportunities and constrain the delivery of humanitarian assistance, persistent macroeconomic challenges, elevated domestic food prices and high prices of fuel, and agricultural inputs. As of early June 2026, the number of IDPs is estimated at about 3.8 million. Most of the IDPs are located in Rakhine, Chin, Kachin, Kayin and Shan states.
High food prices
- According to the latest IPC analysis, about 6.7 million people are projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] and above) between April and September 2026, down from the 7.5 million people estimated in the December 2025 to March 2026 period.
- Mostly due to the protracted negative effects of the 2025 monsoon floods, and reduced livelihood and income opportunities, due to persisting economic challenges.
Gang violence, dry weather, high food prices
- Escalating armed gang violence, compounded by rising food and agricultural input prices, continue to hamper food supply chains, disrupting livelihoods and severely limiting access to food. Prospects of El Niño‑associated dry conditions in the second half of the year are likely to further curb agricultural production. According to the latest IPC assessment, about 5.8 million people, corresponding to 52 percent of the analysed population, were estimated to experience high levels of acute food insecurity in the March to June 2026 period. As of May 2026, a record-high number of 1.5 million people were reported to be internally displaced, further worsening the already critical humanitarian conditions.
Conflict
- According to the 2026 Ukraine HNRP for Ukraine, developed by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), about 10.7 million people are estimated to be in need of multisectoral humanitarian assistance in 2026 due to the ongoing conflict. This represents a decrease of approximately 2 million people compared to the 2025 HNRP estimates. As of December 2025, the IOM, estimated that about 3.7 million people were displaced within the country.
Note: Due to outdated information on acute food security conditions, the following countries have been removed from the list since the last edition of the report in March 2025: Congo, Eritrea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. Monitoring and assessments will continue and these countries could be re-included based on updated data and analysis.