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 2025
(total: 41 countries)
Nature of Food Insecurity
Main Reasons
New entry
Drought conditions, high food prices
- About 2.1million people are estimated to be acutely food insecure between October 2025 and January 2026, due to the negative impact of a series of adverse weather events on crop and livestock production, and the likely negative effects of below-average rains forecast between October and December 2025. High food prices are also contributing to the high levels of acute food insecurity.
Weather extremes, civil insecurity
- About 4.4 million people are projected to face severe acute food insecurity between October and December 2025, reflecting the negative impact of consecutive poor rainy seasons on crop and livestock production, and the likely negative effects of below-average rains forecast between October and December 2025. The protracted conflict is also contributing to the high levels of acute food insecurity.
Conflict, displacements, high food prices
- The ongoing conflict has severely disrupted livelihoods, paralysed economic activities and triggered large-scale population displacements. According to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis, 19.2 million people, 40 percent of the analysed population, are projected to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse levels of acute food insecurity between October 2025 and January 2026. This figure includes about 4.8 million people in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) and 207 000 people facing IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe) levels of acute food insecurity. In the same timeframe, the IPC Famine Review Committee projects famine (IPC Phase 5 [Catastrophe]) in the towns of El Fasher (North Darfur) and Kadugli (South Kordofan State) and a risk of famine in 20 areas across Greater Darfur and Greater Kordofan regions.
Weather extremes, high food prices
- According to the preliminary results of the latest IPC analysis, about 1.8 million people were projected to be face (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] and above) levels of acute food insecurity between October and December 2025. The main drivers are livelihood losses due to climatic shocks and protracted macroeconomic challenges, including currency depreciation. The weakness of the national currency has contributed to pushing up prices of imported foods and fuel prices, which inflated production and transport costs, and consequently prices of locally produced staples.
Conflict, high food prices, weather extremes
- According to the latest IPC analysis, published in July 2025, the number of severely food insecure people (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] and above) is estimated at 1.83 million between September 2025 and March 2026, including about 287 000 people in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency). The situation reflects the impact of the conflict and civil insecurity.
- As of January 2025, 470 000 people were internally displaced as a result of civil insecurity and armed violence according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Refugee influx, civil insecurity, low incomes
- According to the latest Cadre Harmonisé (CH)analysis, about 3.8 million people were facing severe acute food insecurity (CH Phase 3 [Crisis] and above) between June and August 2025, including approximately 456 000 Sudanese refugees, Chadian returnees and IDPs, with nearly 369 000 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency). The continuing influx of refugees from the Sudan has intensified pressure on scarce resources in eastern host communities, while acute food insecurity also remains a concern among IDPs in Lac Province and in areas affected by intercommunal conflicts. These drivers, conflicts and weather shocks, have also eroded livelihoods, further constraining households' food access.
Conflict
- According to the latest IPC acute food insecurity report released in March 2025, 27.7 million people were projected to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and above levels of acute food insecurity between January and June 2025, including 3.9 million people facing IPC Phase 4 (Emergency). The recent escalation of the ongoing conflict in Kivu Region, along with consequent population displacements and high staple food prices, are likely to further worsen the situation.
- As of August 2025, a total of 5.8 million IDPs have been estimated, according to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
Unfavourable weather, low incomes
- About 230 000 people 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.
Weather extremes, conflict, high food prices
- Although the latest food insecurity estimates were published in 2024, the food security situation has generally improved since September as the newly harvested 2025 Meher crops increased domestic availability. However, in southern and southeastern pastoral areas, with weather forecasts pointing to below-average precipitation amounts during the October to December Deyr/Hageya rainy season, the likely negative impact on livestock body conditions and on the availability of livestock products is expected to result in an increase of acute food insecurity.
High food prices, localized shortfalls in production
- The number of people facing acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] and above) is projected to fall to 4 million in 2025/26 from 5.7 million in 2024/25. However, high food prices, localized shortfalls in cereal production in 2025 and an increased risk of flooding in 2026, due to expected average to above-average rainfall, could lead to a deterioration in conditions in some areas, even though the rainfall outlook supports an overall favourable outlook for agricultural production.
Refugee influx
- Over 634 000 people were estimated to face severe acute food insecurity between June and August 2025, including nearly 44 000 Malian refugees, with approximately 18 000 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency). Humanitarian needs remain high in the Hodh Ech Chargui Region, where the majority of the 169 000 Malian refugees in the country are located, leading to significant pressure on natural resources, livelihoods and basic social services, exacerbating acute food insecurity in host communities.
Civil insecurity, flooding
- About 2.2 million people faced severe acute food insecurity between June and August 2025, including over 115 000 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency), well below the 3.4 million people in 2024, mainly reflecting an above-average cereal output and deflation. However, civil insecurity continues to disrupt livelihoods and has triggered the internal displacement of 460 000 people, while humanitarian assistance has been limited and widespread flooding has affected 305 000 people as of early October 2025. Concerns remain about acute food insecurity among 431 000 refugees and asylum seekers hosted in the country as of September 2025.
Conflict, macroeconomic challenges, floods
- About 30.6 million people were estimated to face severe acute food insecurity between June and August 2025, including nearly 1.2 million people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency), slightly below the number estimated for 2024. Conflict and civil insecurity persist in northern states, leading to the internal displacement of 3.6 million people, while humanitarian assistance has been limited due to severe funding shortfalls and worsening access constraints. Across the country, acute food insecurity has been aggravated by floods, which have affected 334 000 people as of early October 2025, and by macroeconomic challenges.
Economic downturn, floods, civil insecurity
- About 5.97 million people, 42 percent of the analysed population, are estimated to face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) or worse levels of acute food insecurity between September and November 2025, including 28 000 people facing IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe) levels of acute food insecurity. The situation reflects livelihood losses due to recurrent floods, a deepening economic crisis resulting in soaring food prices and increasing insecurity.
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, which is disrupting livelihoods and markets, particularly in enclaved communities, while humanitarian assistance remains severely constrained. Concerns also remain for acute food insecurity among displaced populations, including 40 000 Malian refugees and asylum seekers hosted in the country as of September 2025, as well as among people affected by localized flooding in 2025.
Civil insecurity, high food prices
- According to the April 2025 CH analysis, about 2.6 million people were estimated to be facing severe acute food insecurity (CH Phase 3 [Crisis] and above), between June and August 2025, including over 300 000 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.
High food prices, localized shortfalls in agricultural production
- Between October 2025 and March 2026, almost 259 000 people are expected to face acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] and above), moderately down from the figure in same period in 2024/25. The drivers of acute food insecurity are high food prices, localized impacts of adverse weather on agricultural production and a slow recovery in economic growth, which is limiting households’ income‑earning opportunities.
Macroeconomic challenges, flooding
- Nearly 1.8 million people faced severe acute food insecurity between June and August 2025, including 91 000 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency), a sharp increase from the 1 million people estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance in 2024. This reflects the lingering effects of the 2024 floods, which were compounded by recent flood events in 2025 that have affected 60 000 people as of early October 2025 and macroeconomic challenges that have constrained food access for vulnerable households nationwide.
High food prices, localized shortfalls in agricultural production
- Between October 2025 and March 2026, about 334 000 people are expected to face acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] and above), a decline compared to the same period in 2024/25. High food prices and localized weather‑related production losses continue to constrain food access and availability for affected households.
Macroeconomic challenges
- No recent data on acute food insecurity are available. However, macroeconomic challenges, including elevated inflation rates, have continued to constrain food access among vulnerable households across the country.
Localized conflict, economic and political instability, high food prices
- As of June 2025, about 313 000 Sudanese refugees have arrived in Libya since April 2023, with numbers expected to reach 550 000 by the end of 2025. Ongoing humanitarian aid, including water, food, shelter and health services, will be required.
Localized shortfalls in production, high food prices
- The latest IPC analysis projects that 1.64 million people will face IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) levels of acute food insecurity between February and April 2026 (the peak lean season). Although the absolute number is forecast to be down year-on-year, the prevalence of acute food insecurity has remained unchanged. Key drivers are below-average harvests, constrained income opportunities and high food prices.
Conflict
- About 1.5 million people were facing severe acute food insecurity between June and August 2025, including over 64 000 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency) and about 2 650 people in CH Phase 5 (Catastrophe) in Ménaka Region. Conflict remains the key driver of acute food insecurity, with a recent blockade on key fuel and supply routes by NSAGs worsening access constraints, while the delivery of humanitarian assistance has been limited by severe funding shortfalls. Needs remain high among the 402 000 IDPs, and 121 000 refugees and asylum seekers from Burkina Faso, while concerns exist regarding the food security situation of 23 000 people affected by localized floods in 2025.
Insecurity in northern areas, localized shortfalls in production
- An estimated 2.67 million people are estimated to face acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] levels and above) between October 2025 and March 2026, including 170 000 people in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency). A large majority of the food insecure population is located in the conflict-affected northern provinces, especially Cabo Delgado, while the adverse impacts of extreme weather events on agricultural production were a key stressor of acute food insecurity in central and southern provinces.
Localized shortfalls in agricultural production, constrained income levels
- The number of people facing acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis]) in 2025/26 has fallen to 611 900, half the number compared to 2024/25. The improvement is mainly driven by an upturn in agricultural production. However, pockets of adverse weather that curbed agricultural production and constrained income-earning opportunities, combined with high food prices, are key factors continuing to underpin acute food insecurity.
Weather extremes, reduced agricultural production
- About 1.3 million people faced severe acute food insecurity between June and August 2025, including approximately 92 000 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency), well above the nearly 519 000 people estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance during the same period of 2024. The deterioration mainly reflects the lingering effects of 2024 weather extremes on livelihoods and cereal production. Recent localized floods have disrupted the livelihoods of 4 500 people as of early October 2025.
Macroeconomic challenges
- Over 1.2 million people were estimated to be facing severe acute food insecurity between June and August 2025, including about 103 000 people in CH Phase 4 (Emergency). This marks a substantial improvement compared to the same period in 2024, when nearly 1.6 million people were estimated to be in need of humanitarian assistance, mostly supported by a significant decline in food and non-food inflation rates, as well as an above-average cereal output.
Weather extremes, insecurity, high food prices
- According to the latest IPC analysis, conducted in refugee-hosting districts, in refugee camps and in the Karamoja region, about 2.1 million people (13 percent of the analysed population) are facing acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] and above) between August 2025 and February 2026. These conditions reflect the adverse impact of weather shocks, high food prices and insecurity in the Karamoja Region.
- The number of refugees and asylum seekers, mainly hosted in camps and relying on humanitarian assistance, was estimated at 1.96 million as of late September 2025, including about 1 million from South Sudan and about 641 000 from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Localized shortfalls in staple food production, high food prices
- According to the latest IPC analysis, conducted in 16 districts of mainland Tanzania, 242 000 people (5 percent of the analysed population) were projected to face severe acute food insecurity between June and October 2025.
- The main drivers are a shortfall in crop production in 2024, due to adverse weather conditions and outbreaks of pests and diseases, and high food prices.
Localized shortfalls in agricultural production
- Driven by a steep increase in agricultural production and lower prices of key staple foods, the number of people facing acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis]) has fallen to 1.7 million in 2025/26 (October–March), down from the 5.8 million in 2024/25. Localized shortfalls in agricultural production, due to adverse weather, is a key factor contributing to the current acute food insecurity levels.
High food prices, localized shortfalls in agricultural production
- Reflecting an above-average cereal output in 2025, the number of people facing acute food insecurity is anticipated to fall in 2025/26 from the estimated 5 million people during the December 2024 to March 2025 period. Nevertheless, persistently high prices of food and localized shortfalls in production are likely to limit substantial improvements in acute food insecurity.
Conflict, protracted economic crisis
- Conflict-driven damage to infrastructure and agriculture, coupled with population displacements, reduced humanitarian assistance and the ongoing economic crisis, continue to affect livelihoods, worsening food security conditions among both Lebanese residents and refugees. According to the latest IPC analysis, nearly 1.2 million people were projected to face acute food insecurity from July to October 2025, IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and above, including 41 000 in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency).
Conflict, economic collapse
- Famine was confirmed in the Gaza Governorate as of mid-August 2025 and projected to spread to Deir al‑Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September, driven by the intense hostilities, severe restrictions on humanitarian access, widespread displacement and the near‑total breakdown of the food system. Nearly 641 000 people, about one-third of the population, were projected to face IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe) and 1.14 million in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) conditions.
Domestic unrest, economic deterioration, severe drought
- According to latest data available, about 9.1 million people faced acute food insecurity between August and October 2024, including 5.4 million people at risk of hunger. Impacts of prolonged conflict, an economic downturn, severe drought and humanitarian funding gaps in 2025, are likely to worsen acute food insecurity.
Economic deterioration, localized conflict, adverse weather
- Food insecurity remains a high concern, driven by the ongoing conflict, a prolonged economic crisis, constrained humanitarian access and adverse weather conditions that continue to undermine agricultural production and livelihoods. Between September 2025 and February 2026, about 18.1 million people, over half of the local population, are projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] and above), including 5.5 million in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency). In addition, more than 41 000 people are projected to face IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe) in areas under Sanaa‑Based Authorities’ control.
Economic slowdown, earthquake, reduced livelihood opportunities, shortfall in staple food production, reduction in humanitarian funding
- The latest IPC analysis indicates that 9.5 million people, 32 percent of the analysed population, were facing IPC Phase 3 (Crisis) and IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) levels of acute food insecurity between May and October 2025. This situation is driven by an economic downturn, reduced livelihood opportunities, a decline in humanitarian funding and crop losses of the country's main cereal staple, wheat, due to adverse weather conditions. The actual number of acute food insecure people is likely to be higher than the above‑mentioned number due to recent major shocks, including a 6.5 magnitude earthquake in September 2025 and a surge in the inflow of Afghan returnees from the Islamic Republic of Iran and Pakistan.
Economic constraints, high inflation, weather extremes
- According to the IPC analysis, about 16 million people were projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] and above) from May to December 2025, mainly due to the negative effects of floods and Cyclone Remal on livelihoods and persistent macroeconomic difficulties. About 1.3 million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals reside in the country, mainly in Cox’s Bazar District.
Conflict, economic constraints, weather extremes, high food prices
- According to the 2025 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP), about 19.9 million people (28 percent of the population) are projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity in June and August 2025, due to protracted conflict, persistent macroeconomic challenges, elevated domestic food prices and the lingering impact of the powerful earthquake. According to the latest figures (September 2025) from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the number of IDPs is estimated at about 3.6 million. Most of the IDPs are located in Rakhine, Chin, Kachin, Kayin and Shan states.
Economic constraints, weather extremes
- According to the latest IPC analysis, about 11 million people were projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 [Crisis] and above) between April and July 2025, mostly due to the negative impact of weather extremes, reduced livelihood opportunities and economic challenges. The severe floods in August and September 2025 that affected at least 5.8 million people likely further worsen acute food insecurity conditions.
Gang violence, high food prices
- Security conditions continue to deteriorate with the intensification of gang violence extending beyond Port‑au‑Prince, severely limiting access to food, hampering agricultural activities and causing food prices to rise. As a result, about 5.7 million people (51 percent of the analysed population) are projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity between September 2025 and February 2026 according to the latest IPC Projection Update. This includes about 1.9 million people classified in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) conditions.
Conflict
- According to the 2025 HNRP for Ukraine, developed by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), about 12.7 million people are estimated to be in need of multisectoral humanitarian assistance in 2025, as a result of the conflict. As of June 2025, about 3.7 million people were estimated to be displaced in 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.