UN Warns Hunger Crisis Deepens in 13 Global Hotspots

A severe hunger crisis is escalating in 13 global hotspots, including Gaza, Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti, and Mali, where millions face famine without immediate humanitarian aid, driven by conflict, economic shocks, and climate hazards, according to a UN report. Concurrently, water crises are worsening in multiple regions: Crete faces one of its driest summers in years with depleted reservoirs and irrigation restrictions impacting agriculture and tourism; Abbottabad in Pakistan is experiencing a humanitarian emergency due to a prolonged clean water shortage causing social unrest; and Delhi is suffering acute water shortages amid an intense heatwave, with major treatment plants operating below capacity due to declining raw water levels. Experts link the increasing frequency and severity of heatwaves in parts of India and across the region to climate change, which is also exacerbating water scarcity and public health issues. These interconnected crises highlight the urgent need for investment in water infrastructure, efficient resource management, and humanitarian support to mitigate escalating food and water insecurity worldwide.