The United Nations and other organizations say more than 295 million people around the world experienced acute food shortages in 2024 -- the highest-ever number since record-taking began.



The World Food Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization and other international groups on Friday released a report on food crises in the world.



The report says that 295.3 million people faced Phase 3 or higher of acute food insecurity on the five-phase scale in 2024. That's an increase of more than 13 million from the previous year, and the sixth straight year of increase.



The report says about 1.95 million people faced the highest phase of Catastrophe. That's more than double the figure recorded the year before. Ninety-five percent of them were in the Gaza Strip and Sudan.



The report cites conflicts or worsening security situations as the main reasons for food shortages in 20 countries and territories, and extreme weather in 18 countries.
Multiple causes were pointed out for Myanmar, Nigeria and other nations.



UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed a strong sense of crisis.



He said, "Just as food insecurity and malnutrition are gaining pace, our ability to respond is hitting the brakes. The dramatic reduction in lifesaving humanitarian funding is compounding the hunger crisis. And the prospect of a trade war will only make things worse."