The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that severe funding cuts mean it will struggle to feed even a third of the 318 million people facing severe hunger globally in 2026.

The agency stated that the number of people facing acute hunger is more than double the figure recorded in 2019, driven by relentless conflict, extreme weather, and economic instability.

According to the WFP, meeting the needs of those facing acute hunger would cost an estimated $13 billion.

However, current forecasts warn that the WFP may only receive close to half that necessary goal.

The crisis is exacerbated by donor cutbacks, notably by the WFP’s largest donor, the United States, which has reduced foreign aid to UN agencies under President Donald Trump.

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