WFP Funding Crisis
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) recently revealed that its operations in six countries have been severely impacted by significant funding cuts, leaving nearly 14 million people at risk of “emergency” food insecurity.
On August 12, 2025, children lined up in front of a soup kitchen in the Fitayihab community north of Omdurman, Sudan, waiting to receive free meals. This scene is being repeated not only in Sudan but also across the globe. The WFP recently warned that its operations in six countries have been severely impacted by significant funding cuts, leaving nearly 14 million people at risk of “emergency” food insecurity.
In its latest report, the WFP admitted that its funding situation has reached “unprecedented severity.” The $6.4 billion it expects to receive this year represents a decrease of approximately 40% year-on-year and a significant drop from last year’s $10 billion. The WFP warned that due to funding shortfalls, 13.7 million people currently relying on food aid could face “emergency” food insecurity. Meanwhile, WFP’s operations in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan have been severely impacted. In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, WFP originally planned to provide assistance to 2.3 million people, but only 600,000 were able to receive aid in October. In Afghanistan, due to funding constraints and weak local agricultural systems, WFP was able to reach less than 10% of those in need, putting a growing number of people at risk of malnutrition. In South Sudan, funding shortages have hindered WFP’s costly airdrops in famine-stricken areas, bringing agricultural production to a near standstill. And in Haiti, families in need are receiving only half of WFP’s standard monthly ration. “We are watching millions of people suffer from hunger. This isn’t just a funding gap; it’s a real gap between needs and capabilities. Decades of progress in the fight against hunger are at risk,” said Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme.
Global Food Insecurity
The number of hungry people worldwide has reached a record high, reaching 319 million people classified as experiencing crisis-level food insecurity, with 44 million facing “emergency” levels of food insecurity. In August, UN agencies confirmed in their latest assessment that more than 500,000 people in the Gaza Strip were facing famine, the most severe catastrophe level according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification. While the WFP report does not specifically identify any countries, it is worth noting that a report published by The Lancet reveals the profound impact of US foreign aid cuts on global humanitarian aid.
While the WFP report does not specifically identify any countries, the record increase in global hunger and the US foreign aid cuts have had a profound impact on global humanitarian aid. On August 10, 2025, residents of Gaza City received free food. This scene reflects some of the impacts of the global food crisis, particularly in the Gaza Strip, where over 500,000 people are facing famine and agricultural infrastructure has been severely damaged. This is the most severe disaster level on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) scale. While specific aid operations are limited, the global hunger and food insecurity situation still urgently require the attention and assistance of the international community.
