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Approximately 4 million people (22 percent of the analysed population) are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, classified as IPC Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse) between October 2025 and March 2026 – the lean season in Malawi. Of that total, 8,000 people are facing critical levels of acute food insecurity, IPC Phase 4 (Emergency), driven by high food prices, economic decline and below average agricultural production. Phase 4 is characterised by large food gaps and high levels of acute malnutrition. These people urgently require Immediate, life-saving assistance to prevent a catastrophe.
Most of the populations in Phase 3 or above are urban poor and low-income households in rural areas who are not able to produce enough of their own food and are dependent on crisis coping strategies to meet their food needs through market purchases. These strategies include harvesting immature crops, reducing expenses on essential health, and exchanging labour for food due to lack of resources or money to buy food. The situation is exacerbated by the persisting depreciate of the Malawian kwacha against major currencies, including the US dollar, Euro and the South African Rand, the high transportation cost and high food prices.

Namibia’s food security situation has improved significantly in 2025 compared to the previous year. In the current period (July to September 2025), approximately 456,000 people (15 percent of the analysed population) are experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above)—a sharp decrease from 1.15 million in the same period last year. While three regions (Kunene, Kavango West, and Zambezi) remain in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis), the rest of the country is classified in IPC Phase 2 (Stressed), with households experiencing minimally adequate food consumption but struggling to meet essential non-food needs without resorting to negative coping mechanisms. This improvement is largely due to above-average rainfall during the 2024/25 season, increased crop production, improved rangeland conditions, and coordinated interventions by the government and development partners.
The food security situation is expected to deteriorate during the lean season (October to March 2026), with projections showing an increase to 612,000 people (20 percent) in Phase 3. This worsening is attributed to the discontinuation of the countrywide drought relief from the Government in August 2025, reduced labour opportunities, high unemployment (nationally at 36.9 percent as per the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA)), and poor livestock conditions in drought-prone areas.

Armed gangs continue to expand territorial control within Haiti, driving over half of the population—nearly 5.7 million people—into high levels of acute food insecurity. Gang violence, coupled with a suffocating economy are leaving the Haitian people in a desperate situation.
Food security continues to deteriorate. Out of the 5.7 million people facing high levels of acute food insecurity, classified in Crisis or worse (IPC Phase 3 or above), 17 percent of the population (1.9 million people) are facing Emergency levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 4), characterised by large food gaps and high levels of acute malnutrition. An additional 3.8 million people (34 percent of the population) face Crisis levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3).
The situation in Haiti is a complex, multi-dimensional crisis, marked by an economy that has been in steady decline for several years—recording economic recessions for the last six years—and attacks by armed gangs that have led to massive population displacements and the deterioration of livelihoods. Data from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) indicates that approximately 1.3 million people are now internally displaced in Haiti, a 24 percent increase compared to December 2024. Between June and July 2025, the number of internally displaced person (IDP) sites increased from 246 to 272. This increase is mainly due to displacement caused by armed attacks in the Centre department since April 2025.

More than 258,000 people living in rural areas of Lesotho (17 percent of the population analysed) have been experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity, classified as IPC Phase 3 or above (Crisis or worse) between May and September 2025. These people require urgent action to reduce food gaps, protect and restore livelihoods, and prevent acute malnutrition.
Eight of the 10 districts analysed are, classified in IPC Phase 2 (Stressed), while the remaining three districts—Mafeteng, Maseru, and Mohale’s Hoek— are classified in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis). The onset of rains that started from in late October to November 2024 enabled the timely start of planting in the lowlands. However, the country experienced dry spells and high temperatures at the crucial growth stage of cropping between December 2024 and January 2025. Other drivers of acute food insecurity include livestock disease outbreaks, high food prices and reduced agricultural opportunities due to decreased areas planted. Food availability remains a minor limiting factor as food will be available from the markets. From November 2025, the poorer populations are expected to experience food gaps from November 2025.
During the projected period (October 2025 to March 2026), around 334,000 people (22 percent of the rural population analysed) are projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity Phase 3 or above. Nine of the 10 districts are expected to be classified in Phase 3 (Crisis. Only Leribe is likely to be in Phase 2 in the projection period. The main hazards projected During the projected period (October 2025 to March 2026), around 334,000 people (22 percent of the rural population analysed) are projected to face high levels of acute food insecurity Phase 3 or above. Nine of the 10 districts are expected to be classified in Phase 3 (Crisis. Only Leribe is likely to be in Phase 2 in the projection period.

Approximately 1.17 million people (10 percent of the population analysed) in Burundi experienced Crisis (IPC Phase 3) levels of acute food insecurity between August and September 2025. The situation was driven by the combined impact of current macroeconomic conditions, climatic shocks, conflicts in cross-border areas, inflation, rising food and fuel prices, as well as currency depreciation and significant reductions in humanitarian assistance. The urban poor and low-income households in rural areas were most affected.
The situation is expected to deteriorate in the first projection period (October to December 2025), with approximately 15 percent of the population (1.8 million people) likely to experience Phase 3—an increase of 630,000 people compared to the current period. This deterioration in the food situation is projected due to the decrease or depletion of household food reserves, reduced livelihood opportunities, the expected further reduction in humanitarian food assistance, and the intensification of the macroeconomic crisis. Food prices are likely to reach high levels on the markets.

In October, wheat harvesting wraps up and the harvesting of maize and soybeans begins across the northern hemisphere. In the southern hemisphere, wheat crop is developing, and farmers are starting to plant maize and soybeans. Rice harvests are ongoing in China and Southeast Asia. Overall, crop prospects are good. In September, wheat, maize, and rice prices generally declined, owing to ample supplies and strong competition among exporters. However, soybean prices stayed firm in Brazil and the United States, balancing out price drops in Argentina caused by changes in export taxes. Despite these positive trends, ongoing trade tensions have triggered adjustments in trade flows of some commodities, with potential implications on farmers' margins in producing countries and consequently future planting decisions.

Poor rainfall, flooding and persistent conflict are driving 3.4 million people into high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) across much of Somalia. Between July and September 2025, around 624,000 people (3 percent of the population) have been experiencing Emergency levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 4), while more than 2.8 million people (15 percent of the population) have been experiencing IPC Phase 3 (Crisis).
In northern regions, poor rainfall and drought conditions led to failed crop production and poor livestock production and reproduction. In central and southern Somalia, conflict and flooding hampered crop production in agropastoral and riverine livelihoods leading to population displacement, disrupting livelihood activities and market access.
In the projection period (October to December 2025), the food security situation is expected to worsen as the Deyr season rainfall is likely to be below normal. Below-average rainfall, high food prices, continued conflict, and localised flooding are projected to drive 4.4 million people (23 percent of the population) into high levels of acute food insecurity (Phase 3 or above). During this period, the food security situation of urban IDPs in Bay and Bakool is expected to deteriorate from Phase 3to Phase 4. Among urban populations in Nugaal (Burtinle and Eyl), the food security situation is likely to deteriorate from IPC Phase 2 (Stressed) to Phase 3.

An estimated 1.85 million children aged 6 – 59 months are expected to suffer acute malnutrition and need urgent treatment between August 2025 and July 2026. This includes approximately 421,000 cases of children likely to suffer Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), and 1.43 million children likely to suffer Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM). Notably, around 65 percent of the total acute malnutrition burden is concentrated in southern Somalia. Compared to the same season last year, the expected burden represents a 12 and 5 percent increase for GAM and SAM respectively.

Regarding the severity of the acute malnutrition situation, between June and September 2025, out of the 47 analysed areas, 18 are classified in IPC AMN Phase 4 (Critical). These include IDPs in Bossaso (Bari), Galkacyo (Mudug), Mogadishu (Banadir), Baidoa (Bay), Kismayo (Lower Juba), Dhusa Mareeb (Galgadud). Urban populations in Bossaso, Dhusaareb and Beled eyne towns are also classified in IPC AMN Phase 4 as well as some rural areas of Beled Weyne rural (riverine and agropastoral), Shabelle riverine, Shabelle agropastoral, Bay agropastoral, West Golis pastoral and Hawd pastoral of Central regions, all of which were assessed based on Weight-for-Height z-scores.

Uganda is facing a significant refugee crisis, hosting over 1.9 million refugees—the largest number in Africa and the sixth largest globally. In the 13 refugee settlements assessed, as well as in Kampala, approximately 712,000 people (37 percent of the analysed population) are expected to be experiencing high levels of acute food insecurity between August 2025 and February 2026. This includes 16,000 people in IPC Phase 4 (Emergency) and 696,000 people in IPC Phase 3 (Crisis).
This marks a notable improvement compared to the previous period (June–July 2025), when 920,000 people (48 percent of the analysed population) were facing high levels of acute food insecurity. The anticipated improvement is largely attributed to expected increases in crop yields from enhanced agricultural production. In addition, food prices are forecasted to decline with higher production, improving household food availability and access.

The Global Report on Food Crises (GRFC) 2025 September Update provides data available as of 22 August 2025 on acute food insecurity, acute malnutrition and displacement in countries/territories with food crises. It is an update of the GRFC 2025. The report provides an analysis of the conflict-driven Famines in Palestine (Gaza Strip) and the Sudan as well as recent dynamics in other deteriorating food-crisis situations, such as Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Myanmar, South Sudan and Yemen.