Key facts
- Middle East conflict is increasing hunger for millions.
- Rising food prices and funding shortfalls are key drivers.
- Aid agencies are scaling back assistance.
- Afghanistan, Somalia, and Sri Lanka are severely affected.
- Benchmark crude oil prices remain above $100 per barrel.
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is exacerbating hunger for millions of people. This crisis is driven by a combination of rising food prices and significant funding shortfalls that are forcing humanitarian aid agencies to reduce their assistance efforts. The situation is particularly dire in countries such as Afghanistan, Somalia, and Sri Lanka, where households are among the most severely impacted. Benchmark crude oil prices have remained above $100 per barrel, contributing to the overall economic strain. The WFP forecast that as many as 45 million people could fall into acute food insecurity if oil prices remained around $100 per barrel through June. In Somalia, 6.5 million people are expected to face severe hunger in 2026, while Afghanistan could see 17.4 million people affected. The WFP expects to serve 1.5 million fewer people globally in 2026, and an additional 9 million fewer if the situation persists for six months. In Afghanistan, surging fuel prices have driven up aid transport costs as much as fivefold, and delivery times have shot up significantly due to alternative corridors. In Somalia, soaring jet fuel prices are leading to higher operational costs for the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service. The WFP faces an 89% funding gap in Somalia, and supplies of nutritious food for children under 5 suffering from moderate malnutrition will run out as soon as July. The Middle East conflict, which began in February with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, has disrupted key shipping routes like the Strait of Hormuz, constraining global energy flows and supply chains. Some WFP stocks have also been held up in Salalah Port in Oman, causing critical delays.