WFP Warns 363 Million Face Acute Hunger as Iran War Adds 45 Million and Deepens Funding Gap
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · May 27
WFP Warns 363 Million Face Acute Hunger as Iran War Adds 45 Million and Deepens Funding Gap
5 articles · Updated · The Guardian · May 27
363 million people are now at risk of acute hunger worldwide, the World Food Programme said, with 45 million pushed into crisis by the US-Israel war on Iran and the oil-price shock that followed.
Brent crude stayed about 30% above its prewar average after weeks above $100, lifting food and transport costs, disrupting aid routes and delaying 85,000 tons of food bound for Afghanistan by seven months.
A one-third funding cut last year has forced WFP to scale back emergency programmes, while US support fell from $4.4 billion in 2024 to $2.1 billion in 2025 and total donations dropped to $6.5 billion from $9.8 billion.
Only $2.8 billion of the $13 billion needed this year has been received, leaving WFP to prioritize famine zones such as Sudan even as Gaza has improved slightly since the October ceasefire.
The agency said the war is also choking fertilizer flows for East Africa's planting season and worsening risks for aid workers, with more than 1,000 humanitarians killed in the past three years.
Beyond oil prices, how is the Iran conflict reshaping global access to food and fertilizer?
With funding collapsing and supply chains broken, is the global humanitarian aid model facing extinction?
As traditional aid fails, what new technologies can prevent mass starvation in volatile conflict zones?
Global Hunger Emergency: 363 Million at Risk by 2026 Due to Conflict, Supply Chain Collapse, and Aid Cuts
Overview
The world is heading toward a severe global hunger crisis, with acute food insecurity expected to rise sharply by 2026. This crisis is driven by a combination of ongoing conflicts, extreme climate events, and major economic shocks, all pushing hunger to unprecedented levels. The Middle East conflict, especially the Iran war, is making the situation worse by disrupting vital supply chains and creating immediate hunger problems, while also setting the stage for even greater challenges in the near future. These converging pressures threaten food security both regionally and globally, highlighting the urgent need for coordinated action.