UN food agency warns of deepening hunger crisis as funding falls short

The world is facing a deepening hunger crisis with resources falling far short of needs, the United Nations World Food Programme warned on Tuesday, citing sharp declines in humanitarian funding.

In its 2026 Global Outlook, the Rome-based WFP said 318 million people were expected to face crisis levels of hunger or worse next year, more than double the number in 2019.

But shrinking humanitarian funding means the WFP only plans to assist about 110 million of the most vulnerable people in 2026, at a cost of $13 billion, the agency said. Current forecasts suggest it may receive only about half that amount.

"The world is grappling with simultaneous famines, in Gaza and parts of Sudan. This is completely unacceptable in the 21st century," WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain said in a statement