Photo: wfp/Saiyna Bashir

Hunger Emergencies

The world’s worst disasters driving hunger

When conflict erupts or natural disaster strikes, the United Nations World Food Programme is there. It feeds families on the frontlines of our planet’s most dangerous and complicated emergencies.

WFP distributes food in Gaza
Photo: WFP/Ali Jadallah/2023

CRISIS IN GAZA

In Gaza, women, children and families are running out of food, water and electricity.

Top Crises to watch

These countries are currently experiencing critical levels of hunger due to conflict and climate disasters.

Afghanistan

Since the Taliban takeover, the lives of Afghan families were thrown into chaos as the economy went into freefall.

Photo: WFP/Marco Di Lauro/2021
Democratic Republic of Congo

The DRC is the world’s largest hunger crisis, fueled by over 25 years of conflict and endemic poverty. 

Photo: WFP/Griff Tapper
Haiti

Haiti is the poorest country in Latin America, and one of the most food-insecure places in the world.

Photo: WFP/Marco Di Lauro/2021
Northern Ethiopia

After two years of civil war, the latest food security assessment of the Tigray Region alone showed a dire, worsening situation.

Photo: WFP/Michael Tewelde
Somalia

The food security situation in Somalia is critical – it’s experiencing its longest drought in over 40 years, exacerbated by conflict.

Photo: WFP/Geneva Costopulos
South Sudan

South Sudan is facing record levels of hunger due to increasing subnational violence, four consecutive years of flooding and high food prices.

Photo: WFP/Gabriella Vivacqua
Photo: WFP/Michael Tewelde
Sudan

Hunger continues to worsen in Sudan due to conflict, displacement, climate shocks and rising costs.

Photo: WFP/Abeer Etefa/2020
Syria

13 years of conflict have pushed more than 12 million Syrians into extreme levels of hunger.

Ukraine

The war continues to displace people from their homes. Many families have lost access to food.

Yemen

For over 8 years, Yemen has been caught in a complex civil war that has created a humanitarian emergency.

Photo: WFP/Mohammed Nasher/2022
Photo: WFP/Abeer Etefa/2020

Help Save Lives in Emergencies

What is Causing Hunger Crises?

Conflict

The primary driver of hunger is conflict – wars and violence create complex humanitarian emergencies.

Climate Change

The climate crisis is causing natural disasters to be more frequent and more intense.

THe impact of Hunger Emergencies

Famine

A WFP helicopter flies over a crowd of people.
Photo: WFP/George Fominyen

Conflicts and disasters often disrupt food chains that are already fragile. As hunger becomes more widespread and prolonged, famine sets in and the effects are dire.

Refugees

A woman stands outside of a refugee tent, her baby wrapped around her back with a cloth.
Photo: WFP/Marwa Awad

Humanitarian emergencies leave people without food or shelter, forcing them to flee. As refugee crises unfold, hunger becomes a greater challenge.

Photo: WFP/Jacqueline Dent

Emergency relief

Food is often the first thing people need when catastrophe strikes. Natural disasters and conflict leave entire communities homeless and hungry.

WFP does whatever it takes to reach the world’s most vulnerable people, and deliver the food and nutrition they so urgently need.

Save Lives in Emergencies

People suffering from conflicts and natural disasters have the most critical need. Your donation helps provide food and care for families in humanitarian emergencies.

How WFP Saves Lives in Emergencies

Watch the interview with WFP Regional Director for Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe