Rising Prices and Cutting Aid Push Millions to Hunger

The conflict in the Middle East has pushed many people closer to hunger, according to a report from the United Nations World Food Programme. The war has caused fuel and transport costs to climb, which in turn raises food prices worldwide. At the same time, aid organisations are running short of money and have to reduce the help they can give. A joint attack by the United States and Israel on Iran in February started a chain reaction of violence that spread across the Gulf and into Lebanon. This turmoil disrupted important shipping lanes, especially the Strait of Hormuz, forcing ships to take longer routes. The change slowed the flow of oil and other goods around the globe. The World Food Programme warned in March that up to 45 million people could become severely food‑insecure if oil stayed at about $100 a barrel. That warning is now coming true because crude prices have stayed above that level since early March. The hardest hit are families in Afghanistan, Somalia and Sri Lanka who face higher fuel costs, soaring food prices, lost income and broken trade routes.

In Somalia, an estimated 6. 5 million people – about a third of the population – are expected to suffer serious hunger in 2026. Afghanistan could see around 17. 4 million people affected, with the danger growing if disruptions continue. Both countries rely on imported energy and food, making them especially vulnerable. The crisis also coincides with a serious funding gap for aid agencies. The World Food Programme predicts it will be able to help 1. 5 million fewer people worldwide in 2026, and could lose an additional 9 million services if the situation lasts six months. Rising fuel prices have made delivering aid in Afghanistan as expensive as five times more, and transport time has stretched from 10 to 75 days because trucks must take detours. In Somalia, higher jet fuel costs raise the operating expenses for the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service, the only safe way to reach remote areas.

Actions