Bangladesh Among Top 10 in Global Hunger Burden: UN

A new United Nations-led report has warned that the global food crisis has reached alarming proportions, with Bangladesh listed among the countries contributing to two-thirds of the world’s hunger burden.

The report, released on Friday by UN agencies, the European Union and other partners, found that 266 million people across 47 countries faced high levels of acute food insecurity in 2025. This accounts for nearly one-quarter of the population assessed and is almost double the share recorded in 2016.

Titled the 2026 Global Report on Food Crises, it highlights that Bangladesh remains among the top 10 countries responsible for the majority of people experiencing severe food insecurity. While the situation in Bangladesh has shown some improvement, those gains have been partly offset by deteriorating conditions in other regions since 2024.

UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General Qu Dongyu said acute food insecurity is no longer a temporary crisis but a persistent global condition shaped by conflict, displacement and funding gaps.

In Bangladesh, the report noted a reduction of 1.3 million people facing emergency-level hunger (IPC Phase 4), though around 15 million still experience high levels of acute food insecurity.

Improvements were linked to the absence of major disasters in early 2025 and easing food inflation pressures. However, the report warned that risks remain elevated due to climate shocks, flooding, and economic strain, with inflation expected to remain around 8.7 percent.

The situation is further complicated by large-scale displacement. Bangladesh hosts millions of displaced people, including Rohingya refugees and internally displaced communities affected by floods and cyclones. Recent influxes and reduced humanitarian support have worsened conditions in some areas.

The report also pointed to moderate progress in nutrition outcomes, attributed to stronger national capacity to prevent severe deterioration.

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Barham Salih cautioned that forced displacement and food insecurity are closely linked, forming a “vicious cycle.”

Looking ahead, the report warns that global food insecurity is likely to remain high into 2026, driven by conflict, climate extremes and economic instability. It also highlights risks from global market disruptions, including geopolitical tensions, which could further push up food prices and strain supply chains.

Aid agencies say without structural changes in global response systems, hunger risks becoming a long-term feature of global instability rather than a short-term emergency.