WFP warns Middle East war could push 45 million into hunger

The U.N. World Food Programme warned that if the Middle East war continues through June, price shocks could push an additional 45 million people into acute hunger.

By Ali Musa
Wellness Desk – Health & Nutrition Monitoring.

Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Programme (WFP), said the outlook was dire as the agency contends with rising costs and disrupted supply chains. He delivered the warning at a press conference in Geneva.

“If the Middle East conflict continues through June, an additional 45 million people could be pushed into acute hunger by price rises,”

Skau said the increase would come on top of already severe global needs.

“This would take global hunger levels to an all-time record, and it’s a terrible, terrible prospect,”

He said 319 million people are currently acutely food insecure, which he described as an historic high.

Skau said the WFP had been facing a “perfect storm” even before the latest escalation, citing overlapping crises and funding pressures.

“Hunger has never been as severe as now,”

he said, attributing the surge to extreme weather events, conflict and pockets of famine being declared.

“At the same time, the resources fell sharply from 2023 and 2024 levels.”

He said the agency has cut staff and streamlined operations to cope with funding shortfalls.

“We are basically stretched to the limit,”

Skau said the war is compounding the strain on WFP operations by driving up costs.

“Much, much more expensive.”

He said the agency is working to navigate supply chain disruptions, but operating costs have risen sharply due to soaring fuel prices and longer transport routes.