BISSAU, Guinea-Bissau ¡ª Children and vulnerable families in Guinea-Bissau are being pushed further into hunger and malnutrition as funding shortfalls force cuts to critical programmes during the June to August lean season, the United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) warned today.
AKOBO, South Sudan - The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) has scaled-up its emergency response in Akobo East, South Sudan, delivering vital food and nutrition assistance to hundreds of thousands of people facing catastrophic hunger and malnutrition, even as insecurity, infrastructure damage and the onset of the rainy season continue to hamper operations.
LUSAKA, Zambia ¡ª The Government of Zambia, the United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ), and the United Kingdom¡¯s Met Office (UKMO) today launched the investment phase of the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF), a USD 3.6 million initiative to strengthen Zambia¡¯s meteorological capabilities and generate reliable climate data to strengthen early warning systems, and boost anticipatory action for extreme weather shocks like droughts and floods.
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo ¨C The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) is urgently scaling up its emergency response in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), working with the Government, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners to help contain the Ebola outbreak before a health emergency transforms into a broader humanitarian catastrophe.
YANGON, Myanmar ¨C A sharp rise in food and fuel prices, driven by the Middle East crisis, is placing new pressure on families across Myanmar as millions struggle to meet their basic needs. In response, the European Union (EU) has stepped forward with a timely EUR 8 million contribution to the United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) to address deepening hunger across the country.
Food insecurity and malnutrition worsen across Somalia as the first famine risk since the 2022 crisis is confirmed amid the compounding effects of multiple shocks.
MOGADISHU, Somalia ¨C The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the UN Children¡¯s Fund (UNICEF), and the UN Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) warned today of a rapidly intensifying hunger emergency in Somalia that is pushing 6 million people ¨C 31 percent of the population ¨C into critical levels of food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) between April and June 2026. This now includes one of the worst malnutrition crises in the world impacting approximately 1.9 million children, of whom 493,000 face severe acute malnutrition, who are 12 times at higher risk of death compared to well-nourished children.
Conflict, displacement and restricted humanitarian access leave more than 825,000 children at risk of death from severe malnutrition in 2026
ROME/NEW YORK/PORT SUDAN, 15 May 2026 ¨C The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) and UNICEF warned today that nearly 19.5 million people ¨C two out of every five people in Sudan - are currently facing crisis levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) across Sudan, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis.
This is a summary of what was said by the Â鶹ÊÓƵ¡¯s (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) Director of Emergencies and Response, Ross Smith, to whom quoted text may be attributed?¨C?at a press briefing in Geneva today.
KABUL, Afghanistan ¨C?Mothers and children in Afghanistan are bearing the brunt of a surging malnutrition emergency, as converging crises ¡ª economic distress, regional conflict, mass returns from Pakistan and Iran, and deep cuts to humanitarian funding ¡ª overwhelm an already stretched response, warned the UN Â鶹ÊÓƵ¡¯s Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau at the end of a visit to the country.
During a high-level roundtable, FAO, IFAD, and Â鶹ÊÓƵ underscored the need to prepare for extreme climate events.
Santiago, Chile/Panama City, Panama ¨CThe Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) are strengthening coordination and support for the governments of Latin America and the Caribbean in response to El Ni?o forecasts.
DAMASCUS/ROME/CAIRO ¨C Critical funding shortfalls are forcing the United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) to significantly scale back its operations in Syria. Â鶹ÊÓƵ has reduced its emergency food assistance by 50 percent, from 1.3 million people to 650,000 in May, and halted a nationwide bread subsidy programme that has supported millions daily.
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo ¨C The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) warn that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to face one of the world¡¯s largest and most severe hunger crises.
This is a summary of what was said by the Â鶹ÊÓƵ¡¯s (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) Assistant Executive Director, Matthew Hollingworth, to whom quoted text may be attributed?¨C?at a press briefing in Geneva today.
ROME, Italy ¨C The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) welcomes a contribution of EUR 10 million from the Government of Spain to help meet urgent needs amid worsening food insecurity driven by conflict and the ripple effect of the escalation in the Middle East.
Belmopan, BELIZE ¨C The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and New Growth Industries, in collaboration with the National Meteorological Services and the United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ), has activated Belize¡¯s Anticipatory Action (AA) mechanism for drought, following a forecast indicating an increase likelihood of below-average rainfall for the upcoming season. Pre?identified farmers in the drought?prone districts of Orange Walk, Corozal, and Cayo in Belize will receive anticipatory cash assistance ahead of the forecasted drought. This early support will enable farmers to take proactive measures, such as investing in water?storage equipment, drought?tolerant seeds, or irrigation supplies, enabling them to protect their crops, safeguard their livelihoods, and reduce the impacts of the expected dry conditions before they occur.
VIENTIANE, Lao PDR ¨C?The SEADRIF Insurance Company and the United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) have introduced an innovative, impact-based disaster risk insurance policy in Lao PDR. The policy provides pre-arranged financing of up to US$1.1 million to enable timely support to communities affected by extreme weather and other natural hazards. It complements the government's existing sovereign policy, which provides financial protection for national disaster response efforts.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia ¨C A new implementation research study led by Addis Ababa University (AAU), in collaboration with Ethiopia¡¯s Federal Ministry of Health (MOH) and the United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ), finds that treating Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) can be effectively integrated into Ethiopia¡¯s Health Extension Program - bringing essential nutrition services closer to children and families.
N¡¯DJAMENA, Chad ¨C The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) has announced 28-year-old Chadian taekwondo star Casimir Betel as a High-Level Supporter for its work in Chad. Betel will use his platform and reach among young athletes, sports enthusiasts and local community members in Chad and across Africa to raise awareness of the impacts of acute hunger and Â鶹ÊÓƵ¡¯s work.
YAOUND?, Cameroon ¨C The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) welcomes a contribution of USD 713,333 (393.6 million FCFA) from the Government of Japan to provide urgent food assistance to 22,600 vulnerable people in Cameroon¡¯s Far North and Adamawa regions.
DHAKA, Bangladesh - The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) has activated its anticipatory action (AA) response to deliver lifesaving cash assistance to communities at risk of severe flooding in Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts, Sylhet Division, in the northeastern haor region of Bangladesh.
MOGADISHU, Somalia - The United Nations Â鶹ÊÓƵ (Â鶹ÊÓƵ) thanks the Governments of Belgium, Canada, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Qatar and Switzerland for USD 18.7 million in vital flexible funding for emergency food aid in Somalia. This will enable Â鶹ÊÓƵ to continue supporting thousands of drought-affected Somalis with lifesaving food assistance through July. Earlier this year, Â鶹ÊÓƵ faced a serious funding shortfall that threatened to halt its humanitarian operations in Somalia in April.
Conflict and displacement drive worsening crisis, with risk of famine in hardest-hit areas; nearly 700,000 children in danger of severe and deadly malnutrition
