The facts: What you need to know about famine

The world is facing one of the largest hunger crises, with an estimated 44 million people in emergency levels of hunger, according to World Food Program. More than 318 million people across the Middle East, East, Central, and West Africa, as well as the Caribbean, are facing a severe and immediate lack of food due to crises like conflict, displacement, and natural disasters.

For some, the risk of starvation is even greater. Since August 2024, famine has been declared in El Fasher and Kadugli in Sudan as escalating violence endangers people's lives. In 2025, famine was declared in Gaza Governorate in north central Gaza, threatening to spread beyond the governorate.

The risk of increasing famine persists, as needs remain high due to prolonged conflict and challenges from climate change. We’re acting fast to ensure that hungry families get the support they need.

What is the definition of famine?

The simplest definition of famine is an extreme shortage of food. But the devastation it brings causes more than just hunger.

For a hunger crisis to be considered serious enough to be defined as a famine, certain specific criteria need to be met. Famine is declared in an area when one in five households lack adequate food and more than 30 percent of people are facing acute malnutrition—meaning people are underweight and unable to access and eat enough nutritious food.

In these situations, starvation and death are evident. By the time a famine has been declared, people are already dying of hunger: there are two deaths per 10,000 people every day.

What’s complicated is that without accurate data, famine can’t be classified. That means famine could exist, but it can’t be declared. In the chaos of conflict and disaster, collecting reliable information becomes extremely difficult and often risky; roads are blocked, communication systems fail, and traditional data collection methods break down.

How is famine different than hunger?

Famine is the most extreme form of hunger, where large numbers of people are severely malnourished, cannot get enough food, and face high risk of death. Hunger, more broadly, occurs when people do not have enough food to meet their basic energy needs, whether for a short time or over the long term.  

What causes famine?

Conflict, climate change, and migration are among the primary drivers of acute food insecurity.

Debilitating conflicts have forced many people to flee their homes and farmlands have been destroyed. Farmers are unable to plant crops on their land, devastating local agricultural production. Further, families cannot always access the food they need without the risk of encountering violence—and that’s if markets stay open at all. During conflict, many local markets shut down entirely, cutting people off from their primary sources of food, and the limited food that may be available is often sold at inflated costs.

Climate change exacerbates conditions with extreme droughts, flooding, and hurricanes, resulting in ravaged fields, crops, and livelihoods. When natural disasters destroy crops, they don’t just wipe out a harvest—they cut off a farmer’s income and ability to buy food. Worsening conditions driven by climate change are increasing the risk of famine for many vulnerable communities.

Which communities are experiencing famine?

As of late 2025, parts of Sudan, Yemen, South Sudan, and the Gaza Strip are facing extremely serious hunger, with famine already confirmed in some areas of Sudan, including Zamzam refugee camp, where at least 500,000 people have fled to escape violence. Even after the October 2025 ceasefire, many people in Gaza are still facing extremely severe food insecurity. Although the ceasefire has reduced active fighting, ongoing barriers to delivering and accessing adequate food and humanitarian aid mean that the risk of widespread hunger spreading or worsening is still very real.

Millions more are on the move in search of food and ways to earn money. International aid budgets were drastically reduced in 2025 even while conflict and environmental stressors worsened. In countries like Somalia, Kenya, Ethiopia and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, people are skipping meals to make their food last longer, particularly mothers who have hungry children to feed. Some might only eat every other day. Families have described resorting to eating animal feed and boiling weeds and grasses for sustenance. The weakest and most malnourished among them are dying.

How can you help?

Mercy Corps supporters are helping our teams on the ground to meet urgent needs in Sudan, Gaza, Somalia, Yemen, and parts of East and Central Africa. We provide lifesaving support such as clean water, emergency kits, and essential household supplies. Families struggling to access food can also receive cash assistance, giving them the ability to buy what they need most while helping to support local markets and economies.

We are also tackling malnutrition among children and caregivers. Our teams are screening for acute malnutrition, provide nutritional supplements, and treat or refer children with severe cases. During emergencies, we support caregivers with guidance on feeding babies and young children, while training local health workers to recognize and respond to malnutrition.

With your support, Mercy Corps can continue to respond quickly to emergencies, save lives, and help families stay healthy and resilient in the face of hunger.