ROME: The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is driving millions of people closer to hunger as rising fuel and transport costs continue to push up food prices, while severe funding shortfalls are forcing humanitarian agencies to reduce assistance, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said on Friday.
According to the agency, the broader Middle East crisis is unfolding alongside a significant global funding gap for aid operations, limiting its ability to reach vulnerable populations at a time of growing need.
The WFP warned that it expects to serve 1.5 million fewer people worldwide in 2026 due to financial constraints. If the situation continues for the next six months, the agency estimates that up to nine million additional people could lose access to critical food assistance.
“We are running out of food. The food is not available for distribution, and the ones who will experience the impact of this are going to be very vulnerable children,” said Jean-Martin Bauer, Director of the WFP’s Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Service.
The agency stressed that escalating costs and shrinking resources are compounding an already fragile humanitarian situation, with millions of families increasingly exposed to acute food insecurity.
