A consensus-driven evaluation of acute malnutrition, severe food insecurity, and population displacement in countries and regions identified as facing food crises in 2024

The Global Network Against Food Crisis (GNAFC) publishes the document each year, featuring analysis from the Food Security Information Network.

GNAFC is a global coalition involving the United Nations, the European Union, and both governmental and non-governmental organizations collaborating to tackle food emergencies.

It provides perspectives on short-term and mid-term threats to the food security and nutritional health of communities.

However, India was not included among the 53 countries examined for the report.

Terminology Associated with Food Security

Food security is achieved when every individual, at all times, has physical, social, and economic access to adequate, safe, and nutritious food that satisfies their dietary requirements and food choices for an active and healthy lifestyle.

• Acute food insecurity arises when any one of the four pillars of food security — availability, access, utilization, stability — is compromised.
• A food crisis occurs when severe food insecurity surpasses a country’s ability to respond and necessitates immediate external assistance.

Key Discoveries

Acute hunger affected 295 million individuals in 53 nations, an increase of 13.7 million compared to 2023.

While there were advancements in 15 countries like Afghanistan, Kenya, and Ukraine, worsening acute food insecurity in 19 other countries surpassed those gains.

Most Heavily Impacted

The count of individuals experiencing severe hunger increased more than twofold from 2023 to 2024, hitting 1.9 million — the highest figure recorded since the GRFC started monitoring in 2016.

Elevated malnutrition levels were observed in the Gaza Strip, Mali, Sudan, and Yemen.

Famine has been verified in Sudan, and additional areas with individuals facing severe levels of acute food insecurity include the Gaza Strip, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali.

Key Factors behind the Crisis

Disputes, coerced relocation, environmental shifts, and additional economic elements such as inflation and unstable state economies.

Recommendations from the UN and its Partners

• Interventions centered on evidence and aimed at achieving impact.
• Support local food systems and comprehensive nutrition services to foster enduring resilience.
• Expand effective solutions, combine resources, and prioritize impacted communities in responses.