The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) warns that Madagascar is experiencing a worsening humanitarian crisis, particularly in the Grand Sud and Grand Sud-Est regions, which have endured a series of droughts, cyclones, and other disasters this year and last. The lingering impact of the recent El Niño drought and cyclone season, combined with a malaria outbreak and strained health systems, has left many communities without the means to recover.
The most recent shocks came in the form of a prolonged October–December 2024 drought, which was exacerbated by El Niño. There was also severe flooding from multiple cyclones, especially from Tropical Cyclone Honde and Storm Jude in March 2025, as well as migratory and red locust infestations that destroyed key crops and threatened food security in the Grand Sud. In the Grand Sud-Est, an early-season drought was followed by a major malaria outbreak in April 2025.
Hunger crisis is intensifying
In an update on Tuesday, OCHA warned that Madagascar’s hunger crisis is intensifying. The number of people facing emergency food insecurity (IPC Phase 4) is expected to quadruple to 110,000 by January 2026—with the situation being particularly dire in the Grand Sud region. Nearly 1.64 million people are expected to face high levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or worse) in the country.
According to a recent situational overview, 22 districts in the Grand Sud region and parts of the Grand Sud-Est region have suffered a series of droughts, cyclones, and other climate-related shocks this year and last. These shocks have destroyed key crops and threatened food security.
Even during the post-harvest period, seven of the 11 districts are in crisis levels of food insecurity (IPC 3), a level normally seen only during the lean season.
Madagascar is already experiencing an alarming hunger situation, ranking 124th out of 127 countries on the 2024 Global Hunger Index, recently published by the Irish humanitarian organization Concern Worldwide and the German aid organization Welthungerhilfe.
According to FEWS NET, up to 1.99 million people will be in need of humanitarian food assistance during the peak of the lean season, from January to March 2026.
Malnutrition reaches crisis levels
A recent OCHA report highlighted also that malnutrition has reached crisis levels across the Grand Sud region, with five districts having crossed the emergency threshold for severe acute malnutrition (SAM), which places thousands of children under the age of five in life-threatening danger.
Overall, cases of SAM have surged by 87 percent, affecting nearly 160,000 children, while cases of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) rose by 46 percent. SAM admissions have doubled, signaling a worsening nutrition crisis.
Disease outbreaks are further complicating the humanitarian crisis. In the Grand Sud-Est, communities already weakened by years of disasters and hardship are now grappling with surges in diarrhea and vector-borne diseases, such as malaria.
Flooding from successive cyclones, damaged health facilities, and poor access to clean water have fueled the spread of these diseases. Malaria has reached crisis levels in Ikongo District, where over 45,200 cases were reported by the end of July, accounting for nearly a quarter of the national total. Meanwhile, global acute malnutrition rates there are approaching 15 percent.
Additionally, gender-based violence (GBV) remains a critical issue in Madagascar in 2025, with recent studies indicating a high prevalence, particularly in the southern regions. According to the OCHA report, this is due to a combination of factors, including successive droughts and cyclones, which have increased inequalities and the risk of GBV.
Funding cuts cripple humanitarian operations
On Tuesday, OCHA warned that severe funding cuts have crippled humanitarian operations, forcing aid agencies, especially those in areas of acute humanitarian need, to shut down their activities and leave thousands of people without vital aid.
At least 15 international field offices of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) have closed, mostly in high-need districts, further shrinking coverage.
With support from the UN and its partner organizations, the National Office for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC) has launched a National Humanitarian Response Plan calling for nearly US$185 million to address food insecurity, malnutrition, and disease outbreaks through April 2026.
However, the plan currently faces a $125 million funding gap. The Humanitarian Country Team (HCT), comprising the UN and its partner aid agencies, is urgently calling for $85 million to support this government-led plan and meet the most urgent humanitarian needs of 1.5 million people.
Tropical cyclones strike frequently
The Southeastern African country is facing multiple humanitarian challenges, with more than three million people in need of urgent assistance. The island is highly vulnerable to a variety of natural disasters, including tropical cyclones, drought, and flooding.
Madagascar is one of the countries most exposed to natural hazards, ranking high in global assessments of vulnerability to climate change. In recent years, the country has been hit by a series of disasters that have caused death, destruction, and displacement.
Since 2022, Madagascar has experienced a series of devastating tropical cyclones, each leaving a trail of destruction and displacement. These cyclones have severely affected Madagascar, claiming numerous lives, displacing thousands, and impacting millions of people.
Notable storms that made landfall or severely affected the country include Tropical Cyclone Jude in March 2025, Tropical Cyclone Chido in December 2024, Tropical Cyclone Gamane in March 2024, Tropical Cyclone Freddy, which hit the region twice in February and March 2023, and Tropical Cyclone Gombe in March 2022.
Political uncertainty
One of the poorest countries in the world, Madagascar is currently experiencing a severe political crisis. This crisis followed widespread youth-led protests, military defections, and the president's exile after a military takeover in October 2025.
During late September and early October 2025, significant demonstrations took place in the capital, Antananarivo, and in several other regions, marked by incidents of violence and looting. On October 14, a military faction announced it had seized control of the government, and an interim president was sworn in on October 17.