Hunger Hotspots | November 2023 to April 2024 Outlook

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warn that acute food insecurity is likely to deteriorate further in 18 hunger hotspots – comprising a total of 22 countries or territories including 2 regional clusters – during the outlook period from November 2023 to April 2024.

Burkina Faso, Mali, South Sudan and Sudan remain at the highest concern level. Palestine was added to the list of countries/territories of highest concern due to the severe escalation of conflict in October 2023. These hotspots have populations that are facing or projected to face starvation (Catastrophe, Integrated Food Security Phase Classification [IPC]/Cadre Harmonisé [CH] Phase 5) or are at risk of deterioration towards catastrophic conditions during the outlook period, given they have populations already facing critical food insecurity (Emergency, IPC/CH Phase 4) and are facing severe aggravating factors. These countries require the most urgent attention.

Since the May 2023 edition, Chad, Djibouti, Niger, Palestine, and Zimbabwe have been added to the list of hunger hotspot countries/territories, while the countries in the Dry Corridor of Central America (El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua) and Malawi remain hunger hotspot countries. The countries/territories and situations covered in this report highlight the most significant deteriorations of hunger expected in the outlook period, but do not represent all countries or territories with high levels of acute food insecurity.

Armed violence, in particular the trend of increased civilian targeting, will likely continue to underpin the ongoing upward trajectory in global displacement. Insecurity and conflicts are poised to exacerbate already restricted access to, and availability of, food – through displacement, the disruption of markets and livelihoods, and especially the reduction or abandonment of cultivated areas, contributing to deepening protracted food crises. The situation is compounded by a sluggish global economic outlook for 2024 amid tight monetary policies, after global economic growth has decelerated in 2023. Ongoing or planned reductions and gaps in emergency assistance in agriculture, food and livelihoods affect several hunger hotspots of very high concern and highest concern. Weather extremes, such as heavy rains, tropical storms, cyclones, flooding, drought and increased climate variability, remain significant drivers of acute food insecurity in some countries and regions.

Urgent and scaled-up assistance is required in all 18 hunger hotspots to protect livelihoods and increase access to food. This is essential to avert a further deterioration of acute food insecurity and malnutrition. In the hotspots of highest concern, humanitarian actions are critical in preventing further starvation and death. However, humanitarian access is limited in various ways, including insecurity due to organized violence or conflict, the presence of administrative or bureaucratic impediments, and movement restrictions.

This report provides country-specific recommendations on priorities for emergency response, as well as anticipatory actions to address existing humanitarian needs and ensure short-term protective interventions before new needs materialize.

Hunger Hotspots | November 2023 to April 2024 Outlook

All Reports

Hunger Hotspots – November 2023 to April 2024 Outlook

Hunger Hotspots – November 2023 to April 2024 Outlook
FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity

Hunger Hotspots – June to November 2023 Outlook

Hunger Hotspots – June to November 2023 Outlook
FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity

Hunger Hotspots – October 2022 to January 2023 Outlook

Hunger Hotspots – October 2022 to January 2023 Outlook
FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity

 Hunger Hotspots – June to September 2022 Outlook

Hunger Hotspots – June to September 2022 Outlook
FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity

Hunger Hotspots – February to May 2022 Outlook

Hunger Hotspots – February to May 2022 Outlook
FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity

Hunger Hotspots – August to November 2021 Outlook

Hunger Hotspots – August to November 2021 Outlook
FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity

Hunger Hotspots – March to July 2021 Outlook

Hunger Hotspots – March to July 2021 Outlook
FAO-WFP early warnings on acute food insecurity

Hunger Hotspots – October to December 2020 Outlook

Hunger Hotspots – October to December 2020 Outlook
FAO-WFP Early Warning Analysis of Acute Food Insecurity

Hunger Hotspots – July to September 2020 Outlook

Hunger Hotspots – July to September 2020 Outlook
FAO-WFP Early Warning Analysis of Acute Food Insecurity

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