Global hunger reached record levels in 2024, driven by conflict

A new report by the Global Network Against Food Crises reveals that acute hunger affected 295 million people across 53 countries in 2024. This marks a record high, primarily driven by ongoing conflicts. The report, which includes data from the EU, World Bank, and UN agencies, suggests that the outlook for 2025 is grim due to declining international aid. Of those 295.3 million, 1.9 million people were on the brink of famine, the highest number since the report began in 2016. Sudan and the Gaza Strip accounted for the largest portion of this population, with Mali and Haiti also significantly affected. In Latin America, nearly twenty million people faced acute food insecurity in 2024, with Colombia being the most affected country. The report indicates that the proportion of the population facing high levels of acute food insecurity in Latin America increased from 17% in 2023 to 20% in 2024. Haiti faces the most severe food crisis in the region, with 5,600 people experiencing catastrophic hunger.