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Food supply

World Food Programme Warns of Devastating Funding Cuts

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The United Nations' World Food Programme has issued a dire warning that massive funding cuts could push up to 13.7 million people receiving food aid into emergency levels of hunger, just one step before famine. The programme, facing a staggering 40% reduction in funding, estimates that its funding shortfalls could push 10.5 to 13.7 million people currently experiencing crisis levels of acute food insecurity into emergency. This alarming scenario is unfolding in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan, where major disruptions are expected to worsen by year-end.

Key Takeaways:

  • The World Food Programme (WFP) is facing a 40% reduction in funding, with a projected $6.4 billion compared to $9.8 billion in 2024.
  • This funding cut could push up to 13.7 million people receiving food aid into emergency levels of hunger, just one step before famine.
  • The programme estimates that its funding shortfalls could push 10.5 to 13.7 million people currently experiencing crisis levels of acute food insecurity into emergency.
  • In Afghanistan, the DRC, Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan, major disruptions are expected to worsen by year-end, with catastrophic consequences.
  • The WFP notes that programme coverage has been slashed, and rations cut, with life-saving assistance to households at risk, including those in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) levels of hunger.
  • The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) measures hunger and malnutrition worldwide, with the WFP warning that preparedness for future shocks has dropped drastically.
  • The WFP Executive Director, Cindy McCain, warns that the world is facing hunger issues on a scale never seen before, with insufficient funds to help respond.
  • In some countries, less than 10% of those in need are getting assistance, including in Afghanistan, where soaring malnutrition rates are a major concern.
  • Global hunger is at record levels, with 319 million people facing acute food insecurity, including 44 million in emergency levels of hunger.
  • The number of people categorized as "in famine or on the brink" has doubled in just two years to 1.4 million across five countries.

Statistics:

  • 13.7 million people could be pushed into emergency levels of hunger due to funding shortfalls.
  • 10.5-13.7 million people could be pushed from crisis to emergency levels of acute food insecurity.
  • $6.4 billion in funding is projected for the WFP in 2024, down from $9.8 billion in 2024.
  • 319 million people face acute food insecurity globally.
  • 44 million people are in emergency levels of hunger.
  • 1.4 million people are in famine or on the brink across five countries.
  • 600,000 people will receive food aid this month in the DRC, down from a planned 2.3 million.

Sources:

  • "UN's World Food Programme warns of massive funding cuts that could push millions into famine" (AFP)
  • "World Food Programme Warns of Devastating Funding Cuts" (Radio France Internationale)

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