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).
November 2026
(total: 41 countries)
Nature of Food Insecurity
Main Reasons
New entry
Floods, high food prices
- According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs), about 2.1 million people (12 percent of the population) are projected to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse levels of acute food insecurity between November 2026 and January 2027, 22 percent less than the estimate for the July to September period. The expected improvement is mainly due to forecasts of above‑average October to December Short rains, which are likely to benefit livestock conditions and crop production, notwithstanding the potential for localized losses due to floods. By contrast, in Dadaab, Kakuma and Kalobeyei refugee camps, the number of people facing IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse levels of acute food insecurity is projected to increase from 351 000 between July and September 2026 to 430 000 between November 2026 and January 2027, as the expected abundant rains and associated flooding will likely damage livelihoods and markets, constraining food availability and access.
Floods, high food prices, civil insecurity
- About 5.4 million people (almost 30 percent of the population) are projected to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse levels of acute food insecurity between October and December 2026, with a risk of famine identified among internally displaced persons in Bay Region. The number of food insecure people is projected to increase by about 6 percent from the 5.1 million people estimated for the July to September period, mainly due to the expected impact of above‑average October to December Deyr rains, which are likely to cause widespread flooding, displacement, disruptions to livelihoods and market access.
Conflict, 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 no nationwide analysis was conducted for the June to September lean season due to data gaps, 14 areas in North Darfur, South Darfur and South Kordofan states were identified as being at risk of famine under a worst‑case scenario. According to an IPC Alert issued in October 2026, the risk is increasing due to intensified conflict, dry weather conditions affecting crops and livestock production, and access constraints to humanitarian assistance.
Weather extremes
- According to the latest IPC analysis, about 1.02 million people, 8 percent of the analysed population, were projected to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse levels of acute food insecurity between June and September 2026. The main drivers were livelihood losses due to climatic shocks and reduced access to agricultural inputs due to high costs.
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] or worse) was 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, population displacement, and high food and fuel prices.
- As of August 2026, more than 381 000 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, more than 3.5 million people, including approximately 332 000 Sudanese refugees, were estimated to face severe acute food insecurity (CH Phase 3 [Crisis] or worse) between June and August 2026, of whom about 323 000 were in CH Phase 4 (Emergency). Worsening insecurity has strained livelihoods and disrupted markets in eastern provinces, amid sustained refugee arrivals from the Sudan, while displacing people and hindering agricultural activities in Lac Province. Adverse weather conditions affected agricultural production in several areas in 2026, reducing rural households’ incomes.
Conflict
- According to the latest IPC assessment released in May 2026, 26.5 million people (23 percent of the analysed population) were projected to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse 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 worse levels of acute food insecurity. 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.
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As of end-August 2026, about 5.1 million people were displaced countrywide and around 600 000 people were refugees and asylum seekers, mainly from the Central African Republic, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan, placing the country among the largest internal displacement crises at the global level. In addition, the ongoing Ebola outbreak, the largest on record in the country with about 3 700 deaths reported by late September 2026, is further aggravating acute food insecurity by disrupting markets, farming activities and livelihoods, and by hampering humanitarian operations.
Adverse weather conditions, high food prices
- About 256 000 people, 25 percent of the analysed population, are projected to face acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] or worse) between July and December 2026, reflecting frequent weather shocks and high food prices.
Adverse weather conditions, conflict, high food prices
- Although the latest acute food insecurity estimates were published in 2024, conditions have improved since September 2026 following the start of the 2026 major Meher harvest. However, the improvement is expected to be limited and short-lived in areas affected by significant crop production shortfalls due to rainfall deficits. The outlook is mixed for pastoral areas, with above‑average October to December 2026 Deyr rains expected to improve livestock production and reproduction in southeastern areas, while poor performance of the July to September 2026 Karan/Karma rains is likely to worsen conditions in northern areas, where rangeland resources and livestock body conditions entered the current October 2026 to March 2027 dry season at well below-average levels.
Refugee influx, adverse weather conditions
- Over 500 000 Mauritanian residents were estimated to face severe acute food insecurity between June and August 2026, including approximately 13 900 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency). Sustained inflows of Malian refugees have increased pressure on natural resources and livelihoods in host communities in Hodh Ech Chargui Region. More than 112 000 Malian refugees in the region faced severe acute food insecurity between June and August 2026, including 38 400 in CH Phase 4 (Emergency). Furthermore, in some agropastoral areas, rainfall deficits that negatively affected production in 2025 contributed to worsening local acute food insecurity conditions.
Civil insecurity, adverse weather conditions
- Over 2.4 million people were estimated to face severe acute food insecurity between June and August 2026, including about 18 600 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency). Successive production shortfalls and trade disruptions have constrained food availability and contributed to high food prices in conflict‑affected areas, where the presence of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has placed pressure on local resources, while limited income‑earning opportunities constrain food access. Flooding and dry spells have hampered agricultural production in several areas in 2026.
Conflict, macroeconomic challenges, adverse weather conditions
- About 36.3 million people were estimated to face severe acute food insecurity between June and August 2026, including nearly 2.1 million people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency) and about 10 300 people in CH Phase 5 (Catastrophe) in Borno State, where several areas remain inaccessible, IDPs are concentrated and the ongoing cholera outbreak is compounding an already critical situation. In northern areas, conflict is severely disrupting livelihoods, markets and humanitarian assistance. Nationwide, elevated food prices and limited income-earning opportunities are constraining food access. Cereal production in 2026 is expected to be constrained by violence and restrictions imposed by non-state armed groups, rainfall deficits in several areas and high agricultural input prices. Recent floods, affecting 525 000 people, have further increased humanitarian needs.
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, adverse weather conditions
- No recent data on acute food insecurity are available. However, high levels of severe acute food insecurity are expected in northern and eastern regions due to the ongoing conflict, which has disrupted livelihoods and markets, and contributed to high food prices, while constraints on the delivery of humanitarian assistance have limited response operations. Rainfall deficits have affected crop and livestock production in several areas of the country in 2026.
Civil insecurity, high food prices
- According to the latest CH analysis, conducted in October 2025, about 2.8 million people (10 percent of the analysed population) were projected to face severe acute food insecurity (CH Phase 3 [Crisis] or worse) between June and August 2026, including about 250 000 in CH Phase 4 (Emergency). This represents a slight increase compared with the same period in 2025 and mainly reflects the effects of conflict, particularly in the Far North, Northwest and Southwest regions, sociopolitical unrest and high food prices, as well as the premature end of the 2025 rainy season, which reduced agricultural production.
Adverse weather conditions
- An estimated 286 000 people are projected to face acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] or worse) between October 2026 and March 2027, slightly more than in 2025/26 owing to localized adverse weather impacts on agricultural production. Looking ahead, El Niño‑associated dry weather conditions pose a significant downside risk to agricultural production and acute food insecurity in 2027.
High food prices, adverse weather conditions
- Nearly 1.7 million people were estimated to face severe acute food insecurity between June and August 2026, including about 91 700 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency), mainly due to elevated food inflation rates and the lingering effects of adverse weather conditions in 2025, which led to crop and asset losses, while flooding in 2026 disrupted livelihoods.
Adverse weather conditions
- An estimated 311 000 people are projected to face acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] or worse) between October 2026 and March 2027. This marks an improvement on last year, reflecting a larger cereal output in 2026. Looking ahead, the El Niño-associated dry weather conditions pose a significant downside risk to agricultural production and acute food insecurity in 2027.
Adverse weather conditions
- Over 506 000 people were 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 the lingering effects of extreme weather events in 2025, including floods and windstorms, and pest and disease outbreaks, which resulted in localized crop losses, while flooding in 2026 also disrupted livelihoods.
Political and economic instability, high food prices
- As of October 2026, about 109 000 refugees and asylum-seekers were registered in the country, while humanitarian funding shortfalls constrain assistance to vulnerable populations.
Adverse weather conditions
- The latest IPC analysis projected that 11 percent of the analysed population (concentrated in southern and eastern areas) are facing IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse levels of acute food insecurity between October 2026 and February 2027. This is a lower prevalence than in the previous year, although the absolute number of people affected is higher (owing to a larger geographic coverage of the latest IPC assessment). Adverse weather conditions that negatively impacted agricultural production, combined with high levels of pre-existing vulnerabilities, are key factors contributing to the acute food insecurity levels. The potential impact of El Niño poses renewed risks to food security in 2027.
High food prices, adverse weather conditions
- The latest IPC assessment for the October 2026 to March 2027 period projected that approximately 2.6 million people would face acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] or worse). This is 34 percent lower than in the corresponding period of 2025/26, mostly on account of an upturn in agricultural production in 2026. The prospects of dry and hot conditions, associated with El Niño, poses renewed risks to acute food insecurity in 2027.
Conflict, macroeconomic challenges, adverse weather conditions
- Nearly 1.6 million people were 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 fuel and food supplies, contributing to high transport and food costs. The fuel shortages and movement restrictions are constraining economic activities and also hindering humanitarian operations. These constraints, along with funding shortfalls, have severely limited overall humanitarian assistance. Rainfall deficits have reduced pasture availability and worsened livestock conditions, while localized flooding has affected some areas.
Insecurity (northern provinces), adverse weather conditions
- The number of people facing acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] or worse) between October 2026 and March 2027 is projected at 1.8 million, a lower prevalence than in 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 significant risk to both agricultural production and acute food insecurity in 2027.
Adverse weather conditions
- Acute food insecurity conditions between October 2026 and March 2027, pending IPC assessments, are expected to improve compared with the same period in 2025/26, owing to a steep increase in agricultural production in 2026. Looking ahead, however, the potential negative impact of El Niño‑associated dry weather conditions poses a risk to agricultural production and a resulting production downturn in 2027 could trigger a deterioration in acute food insecurity.
Adverse weather conditions, floods
- About 837 000 people were estimated to face severe acute food insecurity between June and August 2026, including approximately 24 900 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency). These conditions mainly reflect reduced 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 were estimated to 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. Furthermore, prices of staple foods remained elevated in early 2026 and, combined with the low purchasing power, constrained access to food.
Adverse weather conditions, high food prices
- According to the latest IPC analysis, about 679 000 people (43 percent of the analysed population) in the Karamoja Region are projected to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse levels of acute food insecurity between November 2026 and February 2027, mainly due to reduced crop and livestock production, and high food prices. Elsewhere in the country, including the refugee population, host communities and in other selected districts, about 2.9 million people (16 percent of the analysed population) are estimated to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse levels between July 2026 and January 2027, reflecting crop production shortfalls, high food prices, limited income-earning opportunities and reduced humanitarian assistance.
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, as well as outbreaks of pests and diseases, and high food prices.
Adverse weather conditions
- The number of people facing acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] or worse) is projected at 1.3 million between October 2026 and March 2027, lower than in the previous year owing to a strong upturn in agricultural production in 2026 and easing prices of key food staples. The potential negative impact of El Niño associated dry weather conditions from late 2026 poses a key risk to agricultural production and, by extension, to food insecurity in 2027.
Adverse weather conditions
- Food price inflation has eased considerably since peaking in mid‑2025, supported by an above-average harvest in 2026. While food access constraints have eased, pockets of acute food insecurity remain, notably in areas where unfavourable weather conditions curbed harvests in 2026. The potential negative impact of El Niño-associated dry weather conditions from late 2026 threatens both agricultural production and, by extension, acute food insecurity in 2027.
Conflict, protracted economic crisis
- According to the latest IPC analysis, about 1.2 million people, including Lebanese nationals, Syrian and Palestinian refugees, faced IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse levels of acute food insecurity between April 2026 and August 2026, including about 101 000 people in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency). Ongoing conflict, population displacement, high food and fuel prices, and weak purchasing power continue to constrain households' access to food, while funding shortfalls are limiting humanitarian assistance.
Conflict, economic collapse
- According to the latest IPC analysis, about 1.4 million people (67 percent of the population) in the Gaza Strip are projected to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse levels of acute food insecurity between July and December 2026, including 212 000 people in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency). Despite some improvements following the October 2025 ceasefire, acute food insecurity remains severe due to continued conflict, livelihood losses, disruptions to food systems and constraints on humanitarian assistance.
Conflict, economic deterioration
- Acute food insecurity is expected to remain severe, driven by escalating conflict, economic deterioration, population displacement and constrained humanitarian assistance. According to the latest IPC analysis, about 5.4 million people (51 percent of the analysed population) in government-controlled areas are projected to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse levels of acute food insecurity between October and December 2026, including 1.8 million people in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency).
Economic downturn, high food prices, reduction in humanitarian funding
- The latest IPC analysis indicates that 19.2 million people, 38 percent of the analysed population, are projected to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) levels of acute food insecurity between November 2026 and April 2027. This situation is largely attributed to persistent economic challenges, limited livelihood opportunities, high domestic prices of basic food items and severe humanitarian funding shortfalls. As of mid-October 2026, about 2.74 million Afghans returned to the country, 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) were 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 nearly 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 food, fuel, and agricultural input prices. As of end-August 2026, the number of IDPs is estimated at about 4 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 were 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. High prices of wheat flour amid limited livelihood opportunities is expected to limit access to food for most vulnerable households.
Economic crisis
- According to the latest FEWS NET analysis, widespread acute food insecurity outcomes (equivalent of IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] or worse) are expected to persist in northeastern and northwestern areas through January 2027, with some of the most vulnerable displaced and returnee households likely to face the highest levels (equivalent of IPC Phase 4 [Emergency]). High food and fuel prices, together with limited livelihood opportunities, continue to exacerbate household vulnerabilities and constrain access to food. Funding shortfalls have resulted in a reduction in the number of people receiving food assistance from 1.3 million to 650 000, further aggravating food insecurity.
Civil insecurity, adverse weather conditions, high food prices
- Humanitarian conditions remain dire, with intensifying armed gang violence hampering food supply chains and limiting access to food and essential facilities. The impact of El Niño related dry conditions, particularly in southern regions, further strains agricultural activity. According to the latest IPC analysis, 5.83 million people (52 percent of the analysed population, and a record-high figure) were estimated to face severe levels of acute food insecurity between March and June 2026. As of August 2026, 1.5 million people were reported to be internally displaced, owing to the deteriorating humanitarian conditions.
Conflict
- According to the 2026 Ukraine Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP), developed by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), about 2 million people are estimated to be in need of food security and livelihoods assistance in 2026.Overall, about 10.8 million people are estimated to require humanitarian assistance due to the ongoing conflict. As of June 2026, the IOM, estimated that about 3.9 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.