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Famine is occurring right now in Gaza and Sudan. Since famine was
declared, hundreds of thousands of families’ lives have been hanging in
the balance since 2025.

Today, we’ll take a closer look at famine — what it is, why it is so
rarely declared, and what it means for regions where it continues to
spread. [ [link removed] ]If you’d like to dive deeper into the topic, check out our
latest article.


[ [link removed] ]Read more [ [link removed] ]▸


What is famine?


The simplest definition of famine is an extreme shortage of food.

For famine to be declared in a region, certain criteria need to be met.
One in five households or more must lack adequate food, and acute
malnutrition must be 30 percent or more.

By the time famine is declared, people are already dying of hunger.


Why is it so rare to declare?


For famine to be declared, organizations and local officials need data.

In many places where hunger and malnutrition are rampant, usually in
hard-to-reach areas or violence-stricken communities, it is difficult to
quantify the impact of the hunger.

Since it can’t be measured, many communities often endure famine for far
longer than they are ever declared.


How does conflict play a role in causing famine?


In most regions of the world, growing crops and accessing nutritious food
follow a straightforward food cycle.


[ [link removed] ][IMG]


When that cycle is disrupted by violent conflict, entire communities are
quickly set on the path to famine.


[ [link removed] ][IMG]


What does the future hold for regions facing famine?


Right now, only two regions have a formal famine declaration: Gaza and
Sudan.

In Gaza, over half a million people are facing catastrophic food
shortages, with over a million more people projected to be at risk of
starvation and death.

Despite the ceasefire announcement and ongoing aid restrictions, civilians
in Gaza are in desperate need of humanitarian assistance to survive. Mercy
Corps is on the ground providing water via trucking and distributing cash
assistance to help families access essentials and household items.

But more aid must reach Palestinian families to ensure their survival
during these winter months.

In Sudan, famine has left more than 375,000 people on the brink of
starvation and 21 million people facing high levels of acute insecurity.

Mercy Corps is giving vouchers to families to buy essentials and urgently
needed items. We’re also helping farmers to grow crops to help address the
lack of food shortage. But as violent conflict rages on, more support is
needed to meet the growing needs of Sudanese families driven from their
homes by conflict.

Mercy Corps is working
around the globe to help communities address hunger amid humanitarian
crises. Too often, many communities experience famine far before it is
officially declared.

Thanks to the support and commitment from people
like you, we’re able to respond to hunger crises in Gaza, Sudan, and
around the globe. Together, we’re reaching more communities and helping
families recover from famine.

[ [link removed] ]Learn more about famine and its impacts on people who face it.

Thank you,

The Mercy Corps team

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