Think biG!

Urge- DevWire

News. Analysis. Events

Dev-News | UrgeDevWire

A weekly development news platform published by UrgeDevWire, produced by Urge Communications. Covering wider East African region.

Dev-News Desk| East Africa. Urge- DevWire

FAO and WFP Identify DRC and South Sudan Among World's Most Critical Hunger Contexts for June to November 2026

ROME, 17 June 2026 —

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the World Food Programme released their biannual Hunger Hotspots report, warning that acute food insecurity is expected to worsen across 13 countries between June and November 2026. Among them, South Sudan and the DRC are listed as requiring the most urgent attention, with populations already facing or at risk of entering Catastrophe conditions under IPC Phase 5.

In South Sudan, 7.8 million people — 55 percent of the population — were projected to face Crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity between April and July 2026. This includes 2.5 million in Emergency, and approximately 73,000 in Catastrophe. Four counties face a credible risk of Famine through July 2026 if conflict escalates, displacement increases, or humanitarian access is further constrained. The counties of Luakpiny/Nasir, Ulang, Akobo, and Nyirol are among those at highest risk.

In Somalia, approximately six million people were projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity between April and June 2026, including nearly 1.9 million at Emergency level. A risk of Famine has been identified in Burhakaba District, driven by multiple consecutive below-average rainy seasons, record-low crop production, conflict, and displacement. In the DRC, classified at very high concern, the convergence of the Ebola outbreak with pre-existing food insecurity and displacement is compounding humanitarian pressures, particularly in eastern provinces.

The report notes that 2025 saw a 27 percent decline in humanitarian assistance to Somalia's food sector compared to the prior year, directly worsening outcomes. Cuts in official development assistance globally are projected to decline a further 5.8 percent in 2026.

Source: FAO/WFP Hunger Hotspots report, Global Network Against Food Crises

Dev-News Desk| East Africa. Urge- DevWire