Around 1.6 million people in Madagascar are facing acute food insecurity and over 110,000 people are facing emergency hunger in 2026.
Why is there a crisis in Madagascar?
Madagascar’s current crisis is not one single event, but the result of several overlapping and reinforcing problems—often described by the UN as a “convergence of shocks.”
Madagascar is one of the countries most exposed to climate extremes, despite contributing almost nothing to global emissions. Since 2020, the country—especially the southern and south‑eastern regions – has been hit by prolonged and recurrent droughts, worsened by El Niño; back‑to‑back cyclones and floods; locust infestations and crop losses; and increasing water scarcity and soil degradation.
These shocks have devastated subsistence agriculture, on which most Malagasy people depend.
Chronic poverty and weak infrastructure
Even before climate shocks, Madagascar was already highly vulnerable. About 75% of the population lives below the poverty line. Infrastructure (roads, electricity, water systems) is extremely limited. Agriculture is largely rain‑fed, with little irrigation or storage capacity.
In addition, basic services (health, education) are fragile, especially in rural areas. Because households have no financial buffers, even one failed harvest can trigger a humanitarian crisis. Repeated shocks leave communities with no time to recover.
Health crises linked to climate and poverty
Climate shocks have also triggered health emergencies, especially:
- severe acute malnutrition (over 155,000 children affected)
- malaria and diarrhoeal disease outbreaks, fuelled by floods, stagnant water, and a lack of clean water
- overstretched and damaged health facilities.
Malnutrition and disease reinforce each other, creating a vicious cycle.
Madagascar: one of the Least Developed Countries
With a population of almost 32 million, Madagascar is the world’s fourth biggest island covering an area of 593,000 km2, or roughly the size of Spain and Portugal combined. The island became an independent republic in 1958 after almost eight decades of French rule. The nominal GDP in 2026 is estimated at $21 billion and it is ranked number 132 on IMF’s world GDP list. The nominal GDP per capita is estimated at $652 and is ranked number 182 on the same IMF list. Madagascar is classified by the UN as one of the world’s Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
While Madagascar is not in full-scale armed conflict, political instability has worsened vulnerabilities. As of April 2026, Madagascar is in a severe, ongoing political crisis following a military-backed coup in October 2025. A military-led transitional government is in place, with Colonel Michael Randrianirina as president, following the overthrow of former President Andry Rajoelina, who fled the country.
The 2023 presidential election had been boycotted by most opposition candidates and had historically low turnout. Periodic protests, restrictions on demonstrations, and accusations of corruption have weakened public trust. This instability does not cause the humanitarian crisis, but it undermines recovery and resilience.
What is the United Nations doing in Madagascar?
Madagascar’s crisis is mainly a climate‑driven humanitarian emergency, made worse by extreme poverty and weak institutions—not war.
The UN is there to:
- Keep people alive through food, nutrition, health, and water
- Protect children and displaced families
- Help the country adapt to climate change and rebuild resilience
WFP leads the emergency food response by distributing food and cash assistance to millions in the worst‑affected regions, treating malnutrition and supporting school meal programmes.
In 2025 alone, WFP assisted nearly 1.9 million people, despite funding pressures.
UNICEF focuses on treating children with severe acute malnutrition, deploying mobile health clinics; providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene services; setting up temporary classrooms and supplying learning materials after floods. More than 580,000 children currently need humanitarian assistance in Madagascar.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) coordinates all UN agencies, NGOs, and donors, runs joint Humanitarian Response Plans and funding appeals.
Beyond emergency aid, the UN works to reduce future crises. UNDP, FAO, IOM and others work on climate‑resilient agriculture and livelihoods, disaster risk reduction and early‑warning systems, supporting governance, elections, and institutions.
These efforts aim to break the cycle where every drought or cyclone becomes a catastrophe.