Acute food insecurity is continuing to stay at very high levels throughout the entire globe. The main drivers for these conditions are conflict, extreme weather, high input costs, and shrinking humanitarian funding continuing to place pressure on vulnerable populations. An update from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC), which was released on 21 September, provides details on the 2026 Global Report on Food Crises. The report also obviously warns that conditions could continue to deteriorate and worsen even more in the upcoming few months.
The assessment found that conditions improved in 17 countries and territories between 2025 and 2026, while they worsened in 15. However, the overall picture continues to be fragile. Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan continue to face a risk of various types of issues such as famine, while Gaza, South Sudan, Yemen, Sudan, Haiti, and Afghanistan have ended up recording some of the highest proportions of their analyzed populations experiencing crisis-level food insecurity or worse.
The report also recognizes and states that armed conflict and insecurity are also among the main drivers who contribute negatively to this situation. However, weather extremes and expensive agricultural inputs are also affecting food systems. High prices for food and fertilizer can raise production and transport expenses, making it harder for households already facing economic difficulties to maintain access to adequate food.
Climate conditions are just another important factor that promotes another layer of uncertainty. The JRC has warned that the developing El Niño could cause more disruptions in agricultural production in several regions. An assessment published earlier in September found that El Niño-related weather extremes were already contributing to crop failures in parts of Central America and East Africa while threatening the next agricultural season in areas including Southern Africa and Southeast Asia.
Somalia also obviously draws a picture to show us how climate shocks can compound and worsen the already existing vulnerabilities. An IPC analysis, which was released on 23 September, estimated that nearly 5.1 million Somalis were facing crisis-level food insecurity or worse between July and September. It also identified a continuing risk of famine, with potential flooding during the October-to-December rainy season posing another threat to communities already vulnerable.
Food markets are facing pressure beyond the countries at the center of humanitarian crises. The Food and Agriculture Organization reported that its global Food Price Index rose 1.9% in August compared with July, reaching 133.3 points. Higher quotations were linked partly to weather concerns, geopolitical tensions, and disruptions affecting trade routes.
The World Food Program has similarly highlighted the importance of international shipping routes to food security. Disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, Red Sea, and Black Sea can delay deliveries of food, fuel, and fertilizer while increasing costs across supply chains. These effects can be particularly serious for import-dependent countries.
Humanitarian funding is another concern. The JRC notes that reduced funding could limit the ability of aid agencies to respond as new shocks emerge. At the same time, gaps in food-security data can make it harder to identify changing needs and direct assistance effectively.
Due to these reasons, the latest findings point to a food-security challenge shaped by several connected pressures rather than a single cause. Conflicts can disrupt farming and trade, and climate events can damage production, while high prices and limited aid can reduce households’ ability to recover in many vulnerable communities today. With El Niño expected to influence conditions into 2027, international agencies are monitoring whether existing vulnerabilities will translate into further deterioration in food access and nutrition.
