Global Food Insecurity: A Crisis With No Sign of Ending

Translated by: Era Stojani.

To ensure that all people, at all times, have access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life”: this is how the FAO defines food security.

But how many people around the world can truly rely on this fundamental right today? For the sixth consecutive year, the number of individuals affected by acute food insecurity and malnutrition has increased globally. The 2025 Global Report on Food Crises published in May, paints a troubling picture: during 2024, more than 295 million people across 53 countries and territories experienced acute hunger conditions—an increase of nearly 14 million compared to the previous year.

According to the report, the worst food crises are concentrated in areas affected by conflict,climate change,economic collapse,and fragile health and social systems-particularly in the Horn of Africa ,the Sahel,Gaza,Yemen and Afghanistan.

The most affected groups are rural communities, women and children with alarming rates of child malnutrition reported in Gaza,Mali,Sudan and Yemen. In 2024,nearly 38 million children under the age of five were severely malnourished in 26 crisis-affected contexts.

The report also highlights the impact of forces displacement of the 128 million displaced people ,about 95 million live in countries facing food emergencies, such as the Democratic Republic of Congo,Sudan,Syria and Colombia.

The Root Causes of Food Insecurity

Acute hunger is the direct result of a complex and overlapping combination of persistent factors that reinforce one another and worsen the fragility of already vulnerable communities.

Armed conflict remains the main driver of food insecurity. In 2024, approximately 140 million peopleacross 20 countries and territories were directly affected by hunger due to war and violence. The most dramatic case is Sudan, where famine has been confirmed. Other critical hotspots include Gaza,South Sudan,Haiti and Mali, where people are forced to survive in extreme conditions without access to safe food or continuous humanitarian assistance.

Alongside conflict,economic shocks play a decisive role. Inflation, currency devaluation, and rising food costs have further worsened the situation in at least 15 countries, affecting over 59 million people. Although slightly lower than in 2023, this number is still nearly double the pre Covid levels. In countries like Afghanistan,Yemen,Syria and again South Sudan,economic deterioration has been one of the main triggers of chronic hunger.

A third major factor is extreme weather events often linked to El Nino. In 2024, prolonged droughts, devastating floods, and desertification triggered food crises in 18 countries, affecting over 96 million. The most impacted areas include Southern Africa,South Asia and the Horn of Africa, where crop failures, water shortages, and livestock deaths have crippled entire agricultural communities.

The EU’s Role in the Fight Against Global Hunger

The European Union is one of the world's leading actors in humanitarian aid and development. As an agricultural power and net food exporter, the EU is actively committed to ensuring food security and strengthening global food systems.Through the European Commission and particularly the Directorate-General ECHO, the EU provides food assistance before, during, and after humanitarian crises, aiming to ensure access to safe and nutritious food for the most vulnerable populations.

Since 2010, EU food assistance policy has supported millions of people lacking access to adequate resources. Between 2021 and 2023 around one third of the Eu’s humanitarian budget was allocated to emergency food interventions. Special attention is given to so-called “forgotten crisis”—long-term emergencies that receive little international visibility. At least 15% of the initial humanitarian budget is allocated to these contexts. In 2023 alone, over 175 million was directed toward crises in the Democratic Republic of Congo,South Sudan,Nigeria,Lebanon,Bangladesh,Burkina Faso and Mali.

How the EU Fights Hunger Worldwide

EU aid is designed to adapt to the specific needs of each crisis and group. In acute emergencies, it provides essential and nutritious food, but often also delivers cash transfers In many cases, food is available in local markets, but affected people simply cannot afford to buy it.. Providing cash allows families to choose and purchase the food they need—more quickly and efficiently than physical aid distribution.

A notable example is South Sudan where the EU funds a cash-assistance program for communities affected by conflict and flooding, implemented by Save the Children Denmark with a budget exceeding 6 million. This type of intervention has proven more effective than direct food distribution.

Beyond immediate aid, the EU promotes sustainable solutions to build community resilience and help people return to self-sufficiency. Initiatives include distributing seeds and agricultural tools to rural households, enabling them to grow their own food and rebuild their livelihoods.

The EU is also a member of the Food Assistance Convention and has pledged to dedicate at least 300 million per year to combating hunger. Over the past two years, the EU has mobilized over 1.7 billion for emergency food and nutritional aid in the hardest-hit countries.

An Uncertain Future

Despite the EU’s major efforts, current resources are insufficient to meet the massive global needs. And the outlook is grim. According to projections from the Global Network Against Food Crises,2025 is expected to be marked by significant hunger-related shocks. Particularly concerning is the decline in humanitarian funding: food and nutrition emergency funds are set to experience the steepest drop ever recorded just as global needs to continue to rise.

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