A staggering 42 million people across six East African countries are facing acute food insecurity this year, according to the IGAD Regional Focus of the 2025 Global Report on Food Crises released today.
The report, covering Djibouti, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda, warns that conflict, climate extremes, economic shocks, and mass displacement are driving a worsening hunger crisis across the region.
In five of the six countries with comparable historical data, the number of people experiencing crisis-level hunger or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above) has tripled since 2016 — rising from 13.9 million to 41.7 million in under a decade.
Sudan is currently the region’s most severe food crisis, with 24.6 million people in urgent need of food aid. The country is witnessing famine conditions in multiple areas, fueled by ongoing conflict and economic collapse.
Meanwhile, South Sudan has the highest proportion of its population facing acute food insecurity, with 57% in IPC Phase 3 or above. Two counties are now classified as being at risk of famine.
The situation is likely to deteriorate further, warns IGAD’s Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), which forecasts drier-than-usual conditions in parts of southern Ethiopia, eastern Kenya, and much of Somalia.
Many of these areas have already endured at least one failed rainy season, and persistent drought conditions threaten to deepen food insecurity and malnutrition.
Across the IGAD region, 11.4 million children under the age of five are acutely malnourished, including 3.1 million who require lifesaving treatment for severe acute malnutrition.
However, funding shortfalls are putting these children at further risk. According to the report, up to 1 million peoplemay be denied access to treatment due to budget cuts.
The IGAD region continues to be the world’s largest displacement crisis zone. As of June 2025, 23.2 million people were forcibly displaced — including 17.8 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) and 5.4 million refugees and asylum seekers.
Sudan alone accounts for 10 million IDPs, while Uganda hosts Africa’s largest refugee population with more than 1.9 million people.
Displaced populations face the worst hunger and nutrition outcomes, with broken livelihoods and heavy reliance on humanitarian aid — much of which is now under strain.
In a statement, IGAD Executive Secretary Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu called the crisis “more than just hunger,” emphasizing its roots in interconnected challenges: war, climate change, displacement, and economic shocks.
“No single institution can tackle these crises alone,” Dr. Gebeyehu said. “We must work collectively across governments and partners to address the root causes and create lasting solutions.”
Farayi Zimudzi, acting Subregional Coordinator for Eastern Africa at the FAO, urged both anticipatory action and investment in sustainable agriculture, warning that rural communities are “among the worst affected.”
Eric Perdison, Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa at the WFP, described the crisis as “deeply alarming,” saying:
“Famine is already unfolding in Sudan, and the situation could worsen. While saving lives is an immediate priority, we must also help communities rebuild and avoid long-term dependence on aid.”
