The World Food Programme has issued its starkest warning yet about the scale of the global hunger crisis, with its leadership telling Sky News that more than 300 million people worldwide are now facing acute hunger. This figure represents the highest number of hungry people ever recorded in human history, with 70 to 80 percent of that hunger driven directly by armed conflict.
Afghanistan is among the worst-affected countries, where a severe malnutrition crisis has taken hold. Five million children and mothers are suffering from malnutrition, yet the WFP says it is only 8 to 10 percent funded for its operations in the country. At clinics, hundreds of women with small children queue for nutrition supplements only to be turned away empty-handed because supplies have run out entirely. UNICEF faces the same shortage.
The situation has been compounded by the conflict in the Middle East, where rising energy prices have sent food costs spiralling. In Sudan, energy prices have surged by 40 percent, with food prices following closely behind. As a result, people are eating 30 to 40 percent less than before. The WFP estimates that if oil prices remain above 100 dollars per barrel until July, another 45 million people globally will be pushed into acute hunger.
Lebanon has also seen a dramatic deterioration, with approximately one million people displaced and facing food insecurity due to the ongoing conflict. While donors have stepped up in some crisis zones, the overall trend is deeply concerning. Last year, the WFP experienced a 40 percent cut to its programmes, leading to the dismissal of 5,000 staff members and millions of people being removed from food assistance in areas where they were already hungry.
WFP leadership drew a stark comparison between military spending and humanitarian needs, pointing out that the war on Iran has cost approximately two billion dollars per day, while the organisation's entire annual request to feed over 100 million people stands at 13 billion dollars, equivalent to less than one week of military operations. The call was clear: end the wars that drive hunger, and provide the funding needed to prevent children from dying of starvation.