GLOBAL – Global hunger could reach record levels if the Middle East conflict continues, according to new projections tracking acute food insecurity worldwide.

The data shows that 318 million people are currently facing IPC3+ acute food insecurity in 2026. If the Middle East crisis continues, that number is projected to rise to 363 million, adding 45 million more people to an already critical baseline.

The projected figure would surpass the peak recorded during the Ukraine war in 2022, when 349 million people were affected, marking what would be the highest level of acute food insecurity on record.

Experts warn that the continuation of conflict in the Middle East is a key driver pushing global hunger toward unprecedented levels, with millions more at risk of falling into acute food crisis conditions.