UN Warns Middle East War Could Push 45 Million More People into Hunger
News Updated: 17 March 2026 16:54 EAT
António Guterres calls for sufficient humanitarian aid
The United Nations has warned that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East could drive an additional 45 million people into acute hunger by June 2026 if hostilities continue.
Officials from the World Food Programme (WFP) said prolonged fighting is already disrupting supply chains, raising food and fuel prices, and stretching humanitarian aid efforts. These disruptions are contributing to a global hunger crisis that experts describe as reaching a “terrible” potential record high.
WFP projections show that the number of people facing acute food insecurity could rise dramatically if the conflict persists. Africa and Asia are expected to be hardest hit, particularly nations that rely heavily on food imports or are already experiencing economic fragility.
The conflict has also disrupted key shipping routes, including through the Strait of Hormuz, slowing shipments and increasing transportation costs. This has compounded difficulties in delivering life-saving aid to vulnerable populations in conflict-affected and fragile regions.
In addition to rising prices, the Middle East war has directly displaced populations and damaged local infrastructure, further undermining access to food and basic necessities. Humanitarian agencies warn that without immediate support, millions could fall into severe hunger, triggering broader social and political instability.
The UN has called for urgent scaling-up of humanitarian assistance and increased funding from donor nations to avert a worsening crisis. Aid agencies stress the need for unimpeded access to deliver food, medicine, and essential services to the most at-risk communities.
Global authorities and analysts caution that if the conflict continues unchecked, the world could face record-high food insecurity, reversing years of progress and threatening millions of lives worldwide.
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FELIX MAKONA
FACT FINDER AND DATA DRIVEN JOURNALIST. DATA MINING AT IT'S BEST. GET FACTS RANGING FROM MATTERS DISABILITY AND INCLUSION, POLITICS, ECONOMY, SPORTS AND GENERAL NEWS AROUND THE WORLD