Key facts
- Millions are facing acute hunger due to the Iran conflict and its economic fallout.
- Fragile economies in Somalia, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka are severely impacted.
- The conflict drives up food and fuel prices and disrupts global trade networks.
- The UN agency warned that impacts will intensify even if the conflict de-escalates.
- The tight correlation between energy and food prices exacerbates the crisis in poor countries.
The United Nations food agency, the World Food Programme (WFP), has issued a severe warning about the macroeconomic consequences of the ongoing conflict in Iran and the Persian Gulf region. According to the WFP, millions of people are being pushed into acute hunger due to the war, a grim trajectory previously forecast if the Middle East crisis persisted and global oil prices remained elevated. The agency's analysis of three highly vulnerable nations revealed that an additional 2.5 million people in Somalia, 2.3 million in Afghanistan, and 1.3 million in Sri Lanka are currently struggling to meet their basic nutritional needs. This adds to the estimated 45 million people globally who could face severe food insecurity by the end of June, on top of the over 300 million already experiencing critical food shortages before the conflict began. The WFP's assessment highlights significant "spillovers" from the Middle East crisis, which are driving up food and fuel costs and severely disrupting global trade networks. The agency cautioned that these impacts are expected to intensify in the coming months, even if diplomatic de-escalation occurs, due to the tight correlation between energy and food prices, particularly affecting the poorest countries where households spend nearly all their income on food. The WFP also noted that UN agencies themselves have felt financial pressure due to a significant drawdown in US support, with the Trump administration cutting funding over concerns about the UN not promoting American interests. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has previously warned of record outstanding dues and insufficient collections to cover assessed contributions.