Global Hunger Crisis Puts 300 Million at Risk of Starvation

Almost 300 million people are at risk of death from starvation as conflicts, climate shocks, and funding cuts worsen food insecurity.

May 20, 2025Clash Report

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Global Hunger Crisis Puts 300 Million at Risk of Starvation

ClashReport Editor

ClashReport

A recent report reveals that nearly 300 million people worldwide are now at risk of death through starvation, marking the sixth consecutive year of rising acute food insecurity. The Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) found that 295.3 million people in 53 countries are facing severe hunger, driven by conflicts, economic shocks, and climate change. This figure represents almost a quarter of the population in the countries analyzed.

Sudan and the Gaza Strip are among the worst-affected regions, with Sudan officially declaring famine as over 24 million people face acute food insecurity. In Gaza, the ongoing Israeli blockade and the collapse of a two-month ceasefire have left 2.1 million Palestinians at "critical risk" of famine, according to the latest UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) report.

The report also highlights the devastating impact of abrupt funding cuts, particularly the termination of USAID support, which has dismantled nutrition programs for over 14 million children in countries like Sudan, Yemen, and Haiti. These cuts have significantly reduced the capacity to combat severe malnutrition and hunger-related deaths.

Global food insecurity has steadily worsened over the past decade, driven by a combination of escalating conflicts, climate-induced disasters, and economic shocks. The ongoing crises in Myanmar, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo are contributing to this alarming trend, as are worsening drought conditions in Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.