A United Nations-backed assessment has, for the first time, confirmed famine conditions in both Gaza and parts of Sudan within the same year, underscoring the scale of a deepening global hunger crisis. The findings point to 266 million people across 47 countries facing acute food insecurity in 2025, with the majority concentrated in a small group of states already affected by prolonged instability and economic collapse.

Within this broader landscape, conditions in Gaza are described as catastrophic, with the ongoing genocidal war identified as a central driver of mass deprivation. The report highlights how sustained violence, large-scale displacement and the collapse of essential infrastructure have combined to push entire communities towards starvation. Similar dynamics are noted in Sudan, where internal fighting has severely disrupted agricultural production and access to food supplies.

The analysis further links the crisis to global economic pressures, including rising energy costs and a sharp increase in fertiliser prices following disruptions to key supply routes. These factors are expected to have a lasting impact on agricultural output, with officials warning that the current planting season may be severely affected. As a result, food availability could decline further in the months ahead, compounding already critical shortages.

At the same time, humanitarian response efforts are under strain due to a significant drop in international funding. Aid levels have fallen sharply across major donor countries, limiting the capacity of organisations to respond effectively to escalating needs. With climate shocks and continued genocidal war expected to persist, projections for 2026 remain bleak, raising fears that famine conditions could spread or intensify without urgent and sustained intervention.