Tag: Humanitarian crisis

According to the World Food Programme, over 295 million people in 53 countries experienced acute food insecurity in 2024 alone. A widespread food crisis is not a single event but a complex spectrum of severe conditions, and the terminology used to describe it ranges from food insecurity to the specific, technical classification of famine.

Developed as a multi-partner initiative, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) provides a standardized scale for analyzing food security situations globally. So, what is IPC Phase 2? It is the 'Stressed' phase, which signals that a population faces significant but not yet severe food access challenges, relying on atypical coping strategies to get by.

According to the World Health Organization, nearly half of deaths among children under five are linked to undernutrition, highlighting their extreme vulnerability during emergencies. These crises disproportionately affect specific demographic groups whose nutritional needs are more delicate or who face increased barriers to accessing food and healthcare.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hunger and malnutrition are widespread among refugees and displaced populations, making them highly susceptible to conditions caused by nutritional deficits. Understanding what are the major deficiency diseases in emergencies is critical for effective planning and intervention during humanitarian crises.

According to the World Health Organization, hunger is the single gravest threat to the world's public health, contributing to more than half of all child mortality cases. When food scarcity becomes extreme and widespread, leading to mass death, it is formally known as a famine. However, several other critical terms and conditions describe the different stages and types of severe food deprivation that lead to such a catastrophic state.

According to the World Population Review's 2025 data, Somalia holds the grim title of being the most malnourished country, with over half its population experiencing some degree of malnutrition. The reality, however, is complex, with multiple nations facing severe humanitarian crises that leave millions food insecure.

According to UNICEF, up to 80% of the world's Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) is procured to treat severe wasting in children under five. The meaning of RUTF extends far beyond a simple acronym, representing a revolutionary nutritional solution that has saved millions of lives in crisis-affected areas. It is a fortified, energy-dense paste that allows for the effective, at-home treatment of severe acute malnutrition (SAM).

In 2023, the World Food Programme (WFP) faced a record funding shortfall of more than 60%, even after receiving $8.3 billion in contributions. So, who pays for the World Food Program, and why do these financial gaps occur despite billions in donations? The agency is almost entirely funded by voluntary contributions, and not mandatory UN dues, making its financial stability highly dependent on the generosity of its donors.

According to the World Health Organization, tens of millions of children under five are wasted, a condition addressed by specialized nutritional products. The primary purpose of RUSF (Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food) is to provide a nutrient-dense, shelf-stable supplement for the dietary management of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) in vulnerable groups, such as children aged six months and older, and pregnant or lactating women.

According to the United Nations, more than two million Palestinians in Gaza face a starvation crisis, making humanitarian aid a critical lifeline. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US and Israeli-backed group, has been distributing food boxes, but reports indicate the contents are primarily dried staples that require water and fuel to cook, both of which are scarce.