Pakistan Among 10 Countries Facing Worst Hunger Crisis, Report Warns
Action Against Hunger estimates 10.6 million Pakistanis will need humanitarian assistance in 2026 as climate disasters, poverty and funding cuts worsen food insecurity
Pakistan ranks among 10 countries facing the world's largest food crises, according to Action Against Hunger.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan ranks among the 10 countries facing the world’s largest food crises, as climate-related disasters, economic hardship, displacement and declining humanitarian funding push vulnerable communities deeper into food insecurity, according to a new report by international humanitarian organisation Action Against Hunger.
The report, Ten Largest Global Food Crises, released on Friday in connection with World Food Day, estimates that 10.6 million people in Pakistan will require humanitarian assistance in 2026, despite recovery efforts and improvements in some macroeconomic indicators.
Globally, approximately 177 million people live in the 10 countries where hunger is most concentrated. Acute hunger has doubled over the past decade, affecting 266 million people across 47 countries, the report says.
The 10 countries facing the largest food crises are Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Pakistan, South Sudan and Syria.
Poverty and Rising Food Costs Deepen Crisis
Persistent poverty, high food inflation, rising living costs, limited employment opportunities and declining household incomes continue to undermine food security in Pakistan.
Unfavourable agricultural prices and wider economic instability have further weakened livelihoods, leaving millions of people struggling to afford sufficient and nutritious food.
As humanitarian needs exceed available resources, vulnerable families are increasingly adopting harmful coping strategies. These include reducing food consumption, selling productive assets and withdrawing children from school to manage financial pressures.
The report warns that such measures may offer temporary relief but can deepen poverty, harm children’s nutrition and education, and reduce families’ ability to recover from future economic or environmental shocks.
Limited access to healthcare, nutrition services, clean water, sanitation and hygiene facilities, and social protection is adding to the burden, particularly in rural and disaster-affected communities.
Persistent poverty and acute malnutrition remain major drivers of humanitarian needs. Cuts to essential services and livelihood programmes are also weakening communities’ ability to withstand future crises.
Climate Disasters Threaten Food Security
Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters remains a major contributor to food insecurity. Recurrent floods, droughts, heatwaves, glacial lake outburst floods and increasingly unpredictable monsoon rainfall have damaged infrastructure, reduced agricultural output and disrupted livestock-dependent livelihoods.
Crop losses and prolonged dry spells have forced more households to depend on food markets, even as their purchasing power remains limited.
Several districts are also facing prolonged drought conditions, raising concerns about agricultural production and rural incomes.
The report identifies seasonal hardship as another significant risk. The lean season from December 2025 to March 2026 was highlighted as a period when extended winter conditions and heavy snowfall could worsen food insecurity in some areas by restricting access to markets and essential resources.
These overlapping challenges leave vulnerable households exposed to further shocks, particularly where agricultural livelihoods and access to basic services remain fragile.
Insecurity and Funding Shortfalls Add Pressure
Insecurity and regional tensions are creating further difficulties for Pakistan’s food security response.
According to the report, localised insecurity in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan continues to disrupt livelihoods, limit access to markets and hamper humanitarian operations.
At the same time, shrinking humanitarian funding is widening the gap between the needs of vulnerable communities and the assistance available to them.
The combined effects of economic pressure, climate disasters, insecurity and limited access to essential services threaten to prolong food insecurity and undermine recovery efforts.
The report highlights the need for sustained humanitarian assistance, stronger community resilience and improved access to food, healthcare, nutrition and livelihood support to help vulnerable households withstand future crises.
