UN report highlights rising global food insecurity and malnutrition, with famines confirmed in Gaza and Sudan
via Egypt Today1 min read
A new UN report indicates that ongoing conflicts are severely impacting global food security, with acute food insecurity and malnutrition reaching critical levels. The 2026 Global Report on Food Crises states that 266 million people in 47 countries experienced high levels of acute food insecurity in 2025, nearly doubling 2016 figures. Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, noted that conflict is the main cause, affecting over half of those facing severe hunger. For the first time, two famines were confirmed in a single year 2025 in the Gaza Strip and parts of Sudan. Ten countries, including Afghanistan, DR Congo, Nigeria, and Yemen, accounted for two-thirds of the global total of people facing high levels of acute hunger. Children are particularly vulnerable, with UNICEF reporting that 35.5 million children suffered from acute malnutrition in 2025, including nearly 10 million with severe wasting. Ricardo Pires, UNICEF spokesperson, warned that severe wasting weakens children's immune systems, making common illnesses fatal, especially in regions like Gaza, Myanmar, and Sudan, where conflict, disease, and limited services exacerbate malnutrition.
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Walid Gamal El-Din, Chairman of the General Authority for the Suez Canal Economic Zone SCZONE, oversaw the signing of an investment agreement with Turkish firms YILTEM Apparel and Dinamik Raus Tekstil. This agreement will establish a new garments and textiles manufacturing facility in the Qantara West Industrial Zone, with an investment of $8 million. The facility, spanning 21,000 square meters, will produce ready-made garments and textile products using modern manufacturing, dyeing, and fabric processing technologies. It is projected to create approximately 700 direct jobs, with 90% of its output designated for export markets and 10% for the domestic market, supporting Egypt’s export-driven industrial strategy. This project increases the total number of Turkish investments in Qantara West to 15, bringing cumulative Turkish investments in the area to about $560.2 million, alongside a $2.1 million joint Egyptian-Turkish project. El-Din emphasized SCZONE's commitment to attracting high-quality industrial investments and supporting the textiles and garments industry, which is a key sector for job creation and export growth.
Must ReadPresident Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Nikolai Patrushev, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation and Chairman of the Russian Maritime Board, in Cairo. The meeting included Lieutenant General Kamel El-Wazir, Minister of Transport, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Badr Abdelatty, as well as Ambassador Faiza Abou el-Naga, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs. A senior Russian delegation, including Yuri Matveev, Charge d'Affaires of the Russian Embassy in Cairo, and Sergey Vakhrukov, Director of the National Maritime Policy Department at the Russian Presidency, also attended. President El-Sisi expressed Egypt's deep appreciation for its strategic partnership with Russia and his esteem for Russian President Vladimir Putin. He highlighted the growing bilateral relations, particularly in trade and joint development projects such as the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant and the Russian Industrial Zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, noting these projects reflect the unique depth of the Egyptian-Russian relationship.
President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with Nikolai Patrushev, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, to discuss strengthening bilateral cooperation and advancing key joint initiatives. Presidential Spokesperson Mohamed El-Shennawy stated that President El-Sisi welcomed Patrushev and his delegation, emphasizing Egypt’s pride in its strategic partnership with Russia and appreciating President Vladimir Putin’s role in the progress of relations, especially in trade and development projects. Discussions highlighted the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant and the Russian industrial zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone as key initiatives. Patrushev conveyed President Putin’s greetings, reaffirming Russia’s commitment to implementing strategic partnership agreements and understandings from President El-Sisi’s May 2025 visit to Russia and subsequent communications. The talks also explored expanding cooperation in various sectors, including maritime navigation, reviewing current joint projects and potential new initiatives. The Russian official expressed Moscow’s high regard for Egypt’s role and President El-Sisi’s efforts, confirming support for continued coordination between the two nations.
Renowned production designer Mohamed Attia received the Best Set Design Award for his work on EL SETT, directed by Marwan Hamed, at the 52nd Annual Film Society Festival for Egyptian Cinema. The ceremony took place at Cairo’s Opera House. This marks another win for Attia at the festival, having previously been recognized for films such as BAAD EL MAWKEAA, THE WALLS OF THE MOON, SONS OF RIZK, EHKY YA SCHEHERAZADE, and THE BLUE ELEPHANT. EL SETT chronicles the life of Umm Kulthum, from her early singing days in rural Egypt to her rise as an iconic voice in the Arab world, culminating in her 1967 Olympia concert. The festival, held from April 14th to 21st, featured eight Egyptian films from 2025, including EL SETT, 6 DAYS, SEEKING HAVEN FOR MR. RAMBO, and THE TALE OF DAYE’S FAMILY. Attia's extensive career includes collaborations with leading filmmakers like Marwan Hamed, Yousry Nasrallah, Tarek Alarian, and Ahmed Alaa Al Deeb. Beyond cinema, he has contributed to television productions such as ABLA FAHITA EL DUPLEX, ABLA FAHITA: DRAMA QUEEN, AFRAH AL QOBA, EL TAMANYA, TAHT EL WESAYA, and EKHWATY. His work also extends to theater with the musical COCO CHANEL and the design of major Egyptian cultural events like the Pharaoh’s Golden Parade, the reopening of the Avenue of Sphinxes, and the inauguration of the Grand Egyptian Museum.