Global Food Security Update: Mid-2025 Report

This report provides an update to FEWS NET’s May 2025 Global Food Security Update, offering a comprehensive overview of the current food security landscape. It emphasizes major events since last month and projects trends in acute food insecurity through September 2025. As an interim report during FEWS NET’s operational resumption, it applies rigorous analytical methods to assess acute food insecurity across covered regions, with a strong focus on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).

Key Findings and Regional Analysis

East Africa: Complex Crises and Elevated Needs

• Sudan: Severe food assistance needs persist, especially in North Darfur and Khartoum, where extreme hunger, malnutrition, and mortality rates remain critically high. A rapidly escalating cholera outbreak in Khartoum threatens to exacerbate mortality rates, undermining SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being).
• South Sudan: Parts of Upper Nile and northern Jonglei face extreme hunger and malnutrition risks due to ongoing conflict and anticipated flooding disrupting supply corridors, threatening SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).
• Northern Ethiopia and North-central Somalia: Insecurity and drought limit food access, impacting vulnerable populations including internally displaced persons and refugees across Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, and Burundi, highlighting challenges to SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) and SDG 2.

Middle East and Afghanistan: Persistent Food Assistance Needs

• Gaza: Expanded military operations and challenges in food distribution via the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation have led to mass starvation, acute malnutrition, and hunger-related deaths, severely impacting SDG 2 and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
• Yemen and Lebanon: Ongoing conflict and airstrikes on Yemen’s port infrastructure continue to disrupt economies and food access, undermining SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth) and SDG 2.
• Afghanistan: The forced return of over 680,500 Afghans since January strains the labor market, while erratic spring rainfall compromises wheat production, threatening SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2.

West Africa: Conflict, Insecurity, and Weather Shocks

• Violent extremist groups are expanding control and disrupting agriculture during critical planting periods in Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, and Nigeria’s North East, impeding progress toward SDG 2 and SDG 16.
• Severe flooding in Nigeria has caused over 200 fatalities and damaged infrastructure, including a major trading hub, affecting food distribution and economic stability, which relates to SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

Southern Africa: Harvest Improvements and Persistent Challenges

• A favorable 2025 harvest is improving food access for many rural households through September, supporting SDG 2.
• However, elevated food assistance needs remain in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province due to conflict disrupting agriculture and economic activity, impacting SDG 16 and SDG 2.
• Weather-related crop shortfalls in southern Malawi and eastern Madagascar also threaten food security, highlighting vulnerabilities to climate change and SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Latin America and the Caribbean: Worsening Food Insecurity

• Haiti: Gang violence drives mass displacement and economic disruption, severely limiting food access and undermining SDG 16 and SDG 2.
• Venezuela: High inflation and reduced purchasing power strain food access, especially for poor urban households, affecting SDG 1 and SDG 2.
• Central America: Interannual weather shocks have reduced agricultural productivity, leading to low household food stocks among subsistence farmers during the lean season, challenging SDG 2 and SDG 13.

Summary of Urgent Food Security Needs by Region

1. Sudan: Address extreme hunger, malnutrition, and cholera outbreak response.
2. South Sudan: Mitigate conflict and flooding impacts on food supply corridors.
3. Gaza: Enhance food distribution systems to prevent starvation and malnutrition.
4. West Africa: Counteract conflict-related disruptions to agriculture and infrastructure.
5. Southern Africa: Support conflict-affected and weather-impacted regions with food assistance.
6. Latin America and Caribbean: Address violence, economic instability, and climate impacts on food security.

Conclusion

The global food security situation through September 2025 remains precarious, with multiple regions facing acute crises driven by conflict, climate shocks, and economic instability. Addressing these challenges is critical to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions). Coordinated humanitarian responses and sustainable development interventions are urgently required to mitigate hunger, malnutrition, and associated health risks worldwide.

1. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • The article focuses extensively on acute food insecurity, hunger, malnutrition, and food assistance needs across multiple regions.
   • It highlights issues such as extreme hunger, malnutrition, and disruptions to food supply chains.

2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article mentions high levels of malnutrition and mortality, as well as a rapidly escalating cholera outbreak in Sudan.
   • These health crises are directly linked to food insecurity and poor living conditions.

3. SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

   • Conflict and insecurity are major drivers of food insecurity in regions such as Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, and parts of West Africa.
   • Issues such as violent extremist organizations, military operations, and gang violence are highlighted.

4. SDG 1: No Poverty

   • The economic impacts of conflict, inflation, and displacement reduce household purchasing power and access to food, indicating poverty-related challenges.

5. SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Weather shocks, drought, flooding, and erratic rainfall affecting agricultural productivity are discussed.
   • These environmental factors exacerbate food insecurity.

2. Specific Targets Under Those SDGs Identified Based on the Article’s Content

1. Under SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • Target 2.1: End hunger and ensure access by all people to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round.
   • Target 2.2: End all forms of malnutrition, including achieving targets on stunted and wasted children under 5 years of age.
   • Target 2.A: Increase investment, including through enhanced international cooperation, in rural infrastructure, agricultural research, and extension services.

2. Under SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • Target 3.3: End epidemics of communicable diseases such as cholera.
   • Target 3.2: End preventable deaths of newborns and children under 5 years of age, linked to malnutrition and hunger.

3. Under SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

   • Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.
   • Target 16.6: Develop effective, accountable, and transparent institutions at all levels to manage crises.

4. Under SDG 1: No Poverty

   • Target 1.2: Reduce at least by half the proportion of people living in poverty in all its dimensions.

5. Under SDG 13: Climate Action

   • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters.

3. Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article to Measure Progress Towards the Identified Targets

1. Indicators Related to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger)

   • Prevalence of undernourishment and acute food insecurity levels in affected populations.
   • Rates of acute malnutrition and hunger-related mortality.
   • Food assistance needs and coverage.

2. Indicators Related to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being)

   • Incidence and spread of cholera outbreaks.
   • Mortality rates linked to malnutrition and communicable diseases.

3. Indicators Related to SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions)

   • Number of violent incidents, conflict-related deaths, and displacement figures.
   • Effectiveness of humanitarian response systems (e.g., Gaza Humanitarian Foundation food distribution system).

4. Indicators Related to SDG 1 (No Poverty)

   • Household purchasing power and inflation rates affecting food access.
   • Levels of displacement and saturation of labor markets.

5. Indicators Related to SDG 13 (Climate Action)

   • Frequency and severity of weather shocks such as droughts, floods, and erratic rainfall.
   • Crop production shortfalls and agricultural productivity metrics.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: reliefweb.int