GNV News, November 26, 2025

On November 18, 2025, the World Food Programme (WFP) published a report on the outlook for 2026. It estimates that about 318 million people worldwide will face severe food crises in 2026. Meanwhile, WFP’s funding shortfall is worsening, and for 2026 it aims to support 110 million of those in severe food crisis who are in particular need of assistance. However, it also made clear that of the US$13 billion required, current projections indicate that only about half is likely to be raised.

As has long been argued, the current global food crisis is “worse than ever.” By November 2025, about 1.4 million people were assessed to be in “catastrophic hunger” (the most severe level of food crisis). The majority were concentrated in Sudan and Gaza, but instances of catastrophic hunger were also recorded in parts of South Sudan, Yemen, Haiti, Mali, and elsewhere.

As causes of the food crises occurring around the world, WFP points primarily to conflict and the increase in disasters driven by climate change. However, we must not overlook declining funding as a factor that further exacerbates the food crises triggered by these causes. In fact, WFP’s funding in 2025 was US$6.4 billion, about 40% less than the previous year. By contrast, global military expenditure in 2024 is estimated to have reached US$2.7 trillion, according to estimates.

Learn more about food shortages → “Global food shortages: the issues that go unreported”

Learn more about climate change and food → “Climate change that undermines food security”　

Learn more about the reality of humanitarian aid → “Leave no one behind?”

Food aid in Chad in 2022(Photo: EU Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid / Flickr [CC BY 2.0])