Syria listed among world’s most severe hunger hotspots
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Syria has been included alongside three other Arab countries in a list of 13 global hunger hotspots, according to a joint report issued by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
The report classified Syria, Sudan, Yemen and Palestine among the countries facing the most severe levels of hunger and food insecurity, citing the continued impact of humanitarian crises and armed conflicts.
The list also includes South Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, Chad, Burkina Faso, Mali, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar and Haiti, where acute food insecurity is expected to remain at alarming levels.
The report, released as part of a periodic assessment of acute food insecurity conditions worldwide, warned that food situations could deteriorate further between June and November 2026.
According to the report, ongoing armed conflicts and violence remain the primary drivers of food crises in 12 of the 13 countries identified as hunger hotspots.
It also highlighted additional factors worsening food insecurity, including economic pressures, declining agricultural production, climate-related impacts on food resources and limitations in humanitarian response capacity.
The report pointed to significant challenges facing global humanitarian operations, noting that funding allocated for humanitarian assistance declined by nearly 59 percent between 2022 and 2025. The reduction has constrained the ability of aid organizations to implement food assistance programs despite growing needs in conflict-affected areas.