Capitals: Europe and the Arabs
The World Food Programme on Friday called for funding estimated at $16.9 billion to address the escalating global hunger crisis, or roughly what the world spends on coffee in just two weeks. According to the UN daily news bulletin, a copy of which we received this morning.
This call comes on the heels of the programme’s release of the 2025 Global Prospects report, which assesses global food security needs. According to the World Food Programme, hunger continues to rise, with 343 million people in 74 countries suffering from severe food insecurity, a 10 percent increase from last year.
This includes 1.9 million people on the brink of famine, with catastrophic hunger recorded in areas such as Gaza, Sudan, South Sudan, Haiti and Mali. Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme, said: “Global humanitarian needs are increasing, due to devastating conflicts, more frequent climate disasters, and widespread economic turmoil. Yet funding is failing to keep pace.”
Funding shortfalls in 2024 have forced WFP to scale back its activities, often leaving some of the most vulnerable behind.
Worrying levels in the Middle East
According to the WFP report, the Middle East is experiencing alarming levels of food insecurity, with Gaza, Syria and Yemen among the worst-hit areas. In Gaza, 91 per cent of the population is severely food insecure, with 16 per cent living in catastrophic conditions.
Syria and Yemen face similar challenges, with millions dependent on food aid amid ongoing conflict.
Severe hunger in sub-Saharan Africa
In sub-Saharan Africa, more than 170 million people are facing acute hunger, making the continent the focus of half of WFP’s funding needs for 2025.
Conflict in Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Sahel, coupled with extreme weather conditions exacerbated by El Niño, have deepened the crisis, according to the new report.
Humanitarian operations are under significant pressure, with increasing displacement and reduced access to essential resources creating further challenges.
WFP said that in Asia and the Pacific, 88 million people are suffering from hunger caused by climate-related disasters.
Vulnerabilities in the region have been exacerbated by extreme weather events, which have disrupted food systems and livelihoods.
WFP plans to strengthen social protection systems and proactively work to mitigate the impact of these crises.
Urgent support needed in Latin America
According to the WFP report, Latin America and the Caribbean are also severely affected, with more than 40 million people food insecure and 14.2 million people identified as needing immediate assistance.
WFP is focusing in the region on strengthening food systems, building climate resilience and supporting social protection programmes to stabilize vulnerable communities and prevent further deterioration.
Global Call to Action
The World Food Programme said the $16.9 billion in funding would allow the organisation to feed 123 million of the world’s hungriest people in 2025.
“We at WFP are committed to achieving a world without hunger,” said the programme’s Executive Director. “But to get there, we urgently need the financial and diplomatic support of the international community to reverse the rising tide of global need and help vulnerable communities build long-term resilience against food insecurity.”