Zimbabwe Removed from Global Hunger Hotspot List

A joint report by the World Food Program (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) attributes Zimbabwe’s improvement to favorable climatic conditions that supported a better harvest season. Alongside Zimbabwe, several other countries in East and Southern Africa, including Malawi, Mozambique, and Zambia, have also been delisted due to reduced weather extremes and improved agricultural outcomes.

While the removal marks progress, aid agencies caution that Zimbabwe’s recovery is still fragile. Last year, approximately 7.6 million Zimbabweans needed humanitarian assistance due to the worst drought in four decades. The FAO and WFP warn that any resurgence of climatic or economic shocks could easily reverse its recent gains. Similar concerns are raised for other delisted nations, including Lebanon, where the improvement stems from a lull in military operations rather than lasting structural change.

Globally, the outlook remains grim, with 13 countries still classified as current or emerging hunger hotspots. Areas such as Sudan, Palestine, South Sudan, and Haiti are considered “highest concern” zones, facing extreme risk of famine. Ongoing conflict, funding shortfalls, and restricted humanitarian access are worsening conditions in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Myanmar. FAO and WFP leaders are therefore calling for urgent international action and investment to protect livelihoods, support food production, and prevent further deterioration in these high-risk areas.

To read how the drought hasn’t prevented our groundbreaking international Movement of Life project from improving health and transforming lives in Zimbabwe, see this article on our website.