UN warns WFP funding shortfalls threaten global hunger response
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Summary
The UN spokesperson repeated World Food Programme warnings that 318 million people could face crisis‑level hunger next year and said WFP aims to reach 110 million people in 2026 at a $13 billion cost but expects to receive roughly half that funding.
At a UN press briefing, the spokesperson reiterated the World Food Programme’s warning that global hunger is deepening and that the agency faces a major funding shortfall for 2026.
Farhan said the World Food Programme warned ‘‘318,000,000 people [are] expected to face crisis level hunger or worse next year.’’ He said WFP aims to reach about 110,000,000 people in 2026 at an estimated cost of $13,000,000,000 but ‘‘anticipates receiving barely half that amount,’’ and urged donor states to live up to commitments.
When asked which countries reduced funding most, Farhan deferred to WFP colleagues and encouraged reporters to consult the agency’s press release for donor‑level breakdowns. He emphasized that the funding gap is larger than any single country’s responsibility and that multilateral donor action is needed to prevent a larger humanitarian catastrophe.
The spokesperson framed the funding shortfall as a constraint on lifesaving operations and said the UN will continue to press member states to provide the resources WFP needs to meet rising global demand.