US-Israeli war on Iran driving historic global hunger crisis: UN

World Food Programme officials warn that the global hunger crisis is worsening due to the US-Israeli war on Iran, rising food prices, and major funding cuts.

27.05.2026

By Al Mayadeen English

Source: Agencies

Source: https://english.almayadeen.net/news/miscellaneous/us-israeli-war-on-iran-driving-historic-global-hunger-crisis

The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that the global hunger crisis is worsening, driven by the US-Israeli war on Iran, funding cuts, and rising food and energy prices, Reuters reported. According to the UN agency, 363 million people worldwide are now at risk of acute hunger, and around 45 million of these cases are linked to war in West Asia and the resulting spike in oil prices.

Carl Skau, deputy head of the WFP and incoming acting executive director, said the organization is facing an unprecedented gap between humanitarian needs and available funding. Skau said the world is experiencing historic levels of hunger, with famine conditions declared in two regions in 2025.

"These are historic levels of hunger," he said, noting that famine had not been declared twice in a single year in decades.

The declared famines occurred in Gaza and Sudan. While conditions in Gaza were expected to improve following a ceasefire, the Israeli blockade and hampering of aid deliveries kept the humanitarian situation dire, as Sudan's famine conditions persist in parts of Darfur and South Kordofan.

Skau added that the organization has had to prioritize the most severe cases, stating, "We take from the hungry to give to the starving."

Funding cuts force major reductions in food aid programs

The WFP has faced a significant drop in funding, forcing reductions in operations and staffing. Total contributions fell from $9.8 billion in 2024 to $6.5 billion in 2025. US contributions, the largest source of funding, declined from $4.4 billion to $2.1 billion.

Overall donor funding dropped by nearly 40 percent year on year, leading to large-scale cuts in programs across multiple regions. The agency said it had to reduce staffing by around 5,000 workers and scale back support in countries such as Afghanistan and Yemen. The escalation of the war on Iran has further intensified global food insecurity.

The Strait of Hormuz, under Iranian control, has remained a key factor behind rising global oil prices.

The WFP estimated that if oil prices remained above $100 per barrel, tens of millions more people could face acute food shortages due to rising costs. Even though prices later fell below that level, Brent crude remains significantly higher than pre-war averages, keeping food inflation elevated in many regions.

Disrupted supply chains worsen humanitarian operations

Rising energy costs have directly affected food distribution and humanitarian logistics. Skau said food and energy prices are closely linked, noting that in some countries, a 30 percent increase in energy costs can lead to similar rises in food inflation.

In vulnerable economies, where households already spend most of their income on food, even small price increases can significantly reduce consumption. The war has also disrupted key aid routes.

Border closures and regional tensions have delayed food deliveries and forced the WFP to reroute supplies through longer and more expensive paths.

Rising risks for future food insecurity and famine zones

The WFP also warned that the crisis could deepen further due to disruptions in fertilizer supply chains, particularly affecting regions such as East Africa, ahead of planting seasons. Skau said reduced access to fertilizers could significantly impact agricultural productivity within the next six to nine months.

Beyond supply chain issues, he highlighted increasing risks faced by humanitarian workers, noting that more than 1,000 aid workers have been killed over the past three years. He also pointed to worsening security conditions in war zones, including detentions of aid workers and increasing operational risks in areas controlled by armed groups.

Skau concluded that the erosion of international norms is making humanitarian operations more dangerous than ever.