UN Confirms Famine in Sudan and Gaza Simultaneously, Warns 266 Million Face Acute Hunger as Global Food System Unravels

The UN Security Council convened on Tuesday to address a global food system under unprecedented strain, as Secretary-General António Guterres confirmed that famines are now occurring simultaneously in Sudan and the Gaza Strip. Calling the dual famines a "shameful milestone," Guterres warned that 2025 and 2026 have seen the highest number of armed conflicts since World War II, pushing at least 266 million people into acute food insecurity.[1][2]

The crisis marks the first time this century that two famines have been confirmed at the same time. While the immediate causes are localized violence and restricted humanitarian access, UN officials emphasized that the economic consequences of these conflicts are rippling across the globe. Violence remains the primary driver of starvation in 12 of the 13 most critical hunger hotspots identified by the United Nations.[1][4]

Carl Skau, acting executive director of the World Food Program (WFP), detailed how regional wars are severing maritime arteries and creating a "triple choke point" crisis across the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea, and the Black Sea. Restrictions in the Strait of Hormuz, which handles a third of the global fertilizer trade, have caused availability to plummet, while oil prices have surged 36 percent since the outbreak of war in Iran.[2][5]

"An oil tanker anchored in the Strait of Hormuz can mean one less meal a day for a child in Sudan," Skau told the Council. He noted that grain shipments through the Istanbul Strait are down 40 percent year-on-year, leaving import-dependent nations highly exposed to price shocks. In Sudan, basic food costs have surged nearly 40 percent since February alone.[2][5]

The situation in Sudan is particularly severe, with food systems facing systematic destruction. Perrine Benoist, CEO of Action Against Hunger, reported more than 900 attacks on agricultural infrastructure in Sudan since April 2023, including the bombing of markets and the looting of livestock. She warned the Council that being a woman in Sudan is now a "statistically significant predictor of starvation."[2]

The diplomatic response at the Security Council highlighted the geopolitical fractures exacerbating the crisis. UK Deputy Permanent Representative Kate Foster condemned the famines as entirely man-made, pointing to choices that deny civilians food and essential services. Foster specifically called out Russia's attacks on Black Sea ports and Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that these actions have disrupted global supply chains and driven up global food prices.[3]

Guterres proposed a time-bound effort to build confidence in global shipping, focusing initially on the neutral verification and registration of ships carrying fertilizers. However, he stressed that this mechanism cannot substitute for the full restoration of navigational rights. He also called for the full implementation of UN Resolution 2417 to prevent the deprivation of food and water for civilians, suggesting sanctions against those who unlawfully deny humanitarian access.[1][2]

Despite a "glimmer of hope" in Gaza following increased aid access since the October 2025 ceasefire, the broader humanitarian funding landscape remains bleak. The WFP reported that funding for food assistance has dropped by nearly 60 percent since 2022, forcing the agency to turn away six in seven malnourished children in Afghanistan. "We cannot wait for famine or catastrophic conditions to be formally confirmed," Guterres urged, pleading for proactive intervention.[2][4]