A sharp rise in acute food insecurity is underway, pushed by conflicts, high energy prices, and disrupted supply chains. This page answers the most common questions people search about who’s affected, why hunger is rising now, and what comes next from the UN World Food Programme and policymakers.
The big drivers are elevated energy prices, ongoing conflicts, and funding shortfalls for humanitarian aid. Oil staying above $100 a barrel has increased fuel costs and disrupted transport and delivery times, compounding food price shocks and reducing humanitarian coverage. The World Food Programme warns these factors could push tens of millions more people into hunger if not addressed.
Recent analyses highlight Somalia, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka as particularly affected, with millions more people pushed toward acute food insecurity. The WFP notes roughly 2.5 million additional people in Somalia, 2.3 million in Afghanistan, and 1.3 million in Sri Lanka could be impacted due to the current cost and supply pressures.
Conflicts disrupt farming, trading, and aid delivery, while high energy prices raise costs for fuel, transportation, and food production. Together, they magnify price spikes and delay or limit aid, creating a cycle where households spend a larger share of income on food and essential goods, driving more people into food insecurity.
Regions most at risk include the Middle East and parts of Africa and Asia depending on conflict zones and weather. Aid timelines depend on donor funding, logistics, and Security conditions; WFP warns that without sustained funding, delivery times and coverage will shrink, leaving more people unfed. Expect periodic updates as new data comes in on allocations and reach.
Expect continued warnings from the WFP about funding gaps and the potential scaling back of assistance if donors don’t step up. Policymakers are urged to increase humanitarian funding, stabilize fuel costs, and improve supply chains to prevent mass hunger. Look for new briefs and statements from the WFP as they assess fuel, price, and delivery scenarios and outline needs for the next funding cycle.
Rising fuel prices are driving up transportation and logistics costs, including for the delivery of vaccines and other humanitarian supplies. This can reduce the reach of aid programs and slow down immunization and relief campaigns, especially in hard-to-reach areas.
The U.N. food agency says millions of people are being pushed into acute hunger by the Iran war, as it warned would happen if the conflict escalated and oil prices remained high.