Fund shortage to fight global hunger

The United Nations World Food Programme (UN WFP) issued an urgent warning last week, highlighting a rapidly escalating global hunger crisis. According to the agency, approximately 58 million people are currently at risk of extreme hunger or starvation unless immediate and substantial funding is secured for food aid programmes. This alarming situation comes amid a dramatic shortfall in donations in 2025, with significant gaps in contributions from major donor countries, including the United States.

The WFP, recognised as the world's largest humanitarian organisation dedicated to combating hunger, reported a staggering 40 per cent drop in funding compared to the previous year. This funding deficit directly threatens the organisation's operations in 28 critical crisis zones, including war-torn and politically unstable regions such as Gaza, Sudan, Syria, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

"WFP is prioritising the worst-affected regions and stretching food rations to maximise impact. But make no mistake, we are approaching a funding cliff with life-threatening consequences," said Rania Dagash-Kamara, WFP Assistant Executive Director for Partnerships and Innovation. Her comments underscore the gravity of the crisis and the urgent need for donor nations to renew their commitments.

Globally, the WFP estimates that 343 million people are currently experiencing severe food insecurity. This crisis is largely driven by an interplay of factors including armed conflict, economic instability, and the increasingly devastating effects of climate change. These elements often combine to displace populations, disrupt agriculture, and reduce access to food and basic resources.

Despite these growing needs, the WFP's ability to respond is being severely hampered by a lack of funds. The agency aims to assist 123 million people in 2025-roughly one-third of those in need-but nearly half of those may lose access to vital food aid unless more contributions are secured.

As of March 24, the WFP had received just $1.57 billion in funding. By contrast, for the entirety of 2024, the agency received $9.75 billion-well below its target of $21.1 billion. The gap between need and resources has widened significantly in just a few months, setting the stage for a humanitarian disaster if no corrective action is taken.

While the WFP did not explicitly single out any specific countries for cutting contributions, public data on its website paints a telling picture. The United States, historically the largest donor to the organisation, has so far contributed less than 10 per cent of the $4.45 billion it donated in 2024. This marks a significant decline and raises concerns about the future reliability of one of WFP's most crucial supporters.

The reduction in U.S. aid is partially tied to policy changes under President Donald Trump's administration, which has initiated a broad review of foreign aid and significantly curtailed the activities of USAID, the primary agency responsible for administering American foreign aid. At one point, donations of food purchased from U.S. farmers were suspended, although they resumed temporarily in February under a waiver authorizing emergency assistance.

Other traditional donor countries are also falling short of past commitments. The United Kingdom, for instance, has announced plans to reduce foreign aid spending in order to bolster its defense budget. Anti-poverty group Caritas Europa has further reported that several European nations are contemplating or have already implemented cuts to their foreign aid budgets amid shifting domestic priorities.

These decisions are having devastating ripple effects on global food security. The WFP has identified $2.49 billion in immediate funding needs to sustain emergency relief efforts in regions plagued by conflict and instability. These include Sudan, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Lebanon, Myanmar, Haiti, and areas across the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin.

Without this funding, many of the WFP's core programmess may have to be drastically scaled back or suspended. Earlier this week, the agency warned that initiatives aimed at preventing child malnutrition in Yemen, Afghanistan, and Syria could be halted within months if donors do not step up. In Bangladesh, the WFP has already been forced to reduce rations for Rohingya refugees due to insufficient resources, despite the community's high vulnerability and limited access to alternative food sources.

The global hunger crisis is being exacerbated by natural disasters as well. On March 28, a deadly earthquake struck Southeast Asia, killing several people and causing widespread destruction, including the collapse of a skyscraper under construction in Bangkok. Events like these, further strain the humanitarian response system and divert resources from ongoing food aid missions.

As the WFP continues to raise the alarm, the message is clear: without urgent and increased support from the international community, millions of lives are in imminent danger. The agency is calling for not just emergency relief, but a recommitment to long-term funding strategies that can build resilience in vulnerable populations and ensure a sustainable path towards food security.

With hunger soaring and support dwindling, the WFP's appeal is a stark reminder of the growing gap between humanitarian needs and the global willingness to meet them. Whether donor nations will rise to the occasion remains to be seen but the clock is ticking, and the stakes have never been higher.

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