Millions are facing worsening hunger as the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warns that six critical operations are on the brink of collapse due to severe funding shortages. These pipeline breaks could occur by the end of the year, impacting those in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan.
Global hunger has reached record highs, with 319 million people experiencing acute food insecurity, including 44 million in emergency situations. Executive Director Cindy McCain stated, “Each ration reduction means a child goes to bed hungry, a mother misses a meal, or a family loses the support they need to survive.” This year, WFP anticipates 40 percent less funding, with a projected $6.4 billion budget compared to $10 billion in 2024. McCain warned of losing decades of progress in fighting hunger without urgent support.
In Afghanistan, “dramatic reductions” have limited food aid to less than 10 percent of those in need. The Democratic Republic of the Congo faces record hunger levels with 28 million affected. WFP’s reach has already been cut from 2.3 million people to 600,000, with a full pipeline rupture possible by February. In Haiti, school meal programs have been disrupted, and families receive half of their usual rations. Somalia’s food assistance has diminished from 2.2 million people last year to just 350,000 this November. All beneficiaries in South Sudan receive reduced rations, with key items running out soon. In war-torn Sudan, WFP supports four million people monthly, but 25 million face acute food insecurity.
WFP warns that cutbacks could push 13.7 million people from crisis levels into emergency famine conditions. Haiti lacks hurricane-season contingency stock for the first time in nearly a decade, and Afghanistan has no prepositioned winter food supplies. McCain noted, “The devastating damage caused by food aid reductions not only threatens human lives but also risks undermining stability, fueling displacement, and triggering broader social and economic upheaval.”
Reduced foreign aid from major donors, including the United States and several EU countries, has strained humanitarian budgets. Donors redirect funds toward domestic priorities and crises like climate adaptation and migration management. WFP officials urge governments and private partners to mobilize immediate contributions and adopt flexible funding mechanisms for rapid emergency responses. Effective food assistance is crucial for stability in fragile regions.
In Europe, the hunger crisis resonates with humanitarian actors and institutions. The European Times reports that reductions in EU humanitarian funding have already hampered efforts to stabilize food systems in Africa and the Middle East, a trend highlighted by the WFP’s warning on a global scale.
The WFP is calling for international partners to restore funding levels before year-end to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe. McCain insists, “Quick and efficient food aid is a vital bulwark against chaos in countries already struggling to cope.” Without support, progress in areas like the Sahel, where 500,000 people were recently freed from aid dependency through resilience programs, could quickly unravel.
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