LUSAKA, Zambia — The Government of Zambia, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), and the United Kingdom’s Met Office (UKMO) today launched the investment phase of the Systematic Observations Financing Facility (SOFF), a USD 3.6 million initiative to strengthen Zambia’s meteorological capabilities and generate reliable climate data to strengthen early warning systems, and boost anticipatory action for extreme weather shocks like droughts and floods.
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is urgently scaling up its emergency response in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), working with the Government, the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners to help contain the Ebola outbreak before a health emergency transforms into a broader humanitarian catastrophe.
YANGON, Myanmar – A sharp rise in food and fuel prices, driven by the Middle East crisis, is placing new pressure on families across Myanmar as millions struggle to meet their basic needs. In response, the European Union (EU) has stepped forward with a timely EUR 8 million contribution to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to address deepening hunger across the country.
Food insecurity and malnutrition worsen across Somalia as the first famine risk since the 2022 crisis is confirmed amid the compounding effects of multiple shocks.
MOGADISHU, Somalia – The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) warned today of a rapidly intensifying hunger emergency in Somalia that is pushing 6 million people – 31 percent of the population – into critical levels of food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) between April and June 2026. This now includes one of the worst malnutrition crises in the world impacting approximately 1.9 million children, of whom 493,000 face severe acute malnutrition, who are 12 times at higher risk of death compared to well-nourished children.
Conflict, displacement and restricted humanitarian access leave more than 825,000 children at risk of death from severe malnutrition in 2026
ROME/NEW YORK/PORT SUDAN, 15 May 2026 – The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNICEF warned today that nearly 19.5 million people – two out of every five people in Sudan - are currently facing crisis levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 3 or above) across Sudan, according to the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis.
This is a summary of what was said by the World Food Programme’s (WFP) Director of Emergencies and Response, Ross Smith, to whom quoted text may be attributed – at a press briefing in Geneva today.
KABUL, Afghanistan – Mothers and children in Afghanistan are bearing the brunt of a surging malnutrition emergency, as converging crises — economic distress, regional conflict, mass returns from Pakistan and Iran, and deep cuts to humanitarian funding — overwhelm an already stretched response, warned the UN World Food Programme’s Deputy Executive Director Carl Skau at the end of a visit to the country.
During a high-level roundtable, FAO, IFAD, and WFP underscored the need to prepare for extreme climate events.
Santiago, Chile/Panama City, Panama –The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Food Programme (WFP) are strengthening coordination and support for the governments of Latin America and the Caribbean in response to El Niño forecasts.
DAMASCUS/ROME/CAIRO – Critical funding shortfalls are forcing the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to significantly scale back its operations in Syria. WFP has reduced its emergency food assistance by 50 percent, from 1.3 million people to 650,000 in May, and halted a nationwide bread subsidy programme that has supported millions daily.
KINSHASA, Democratic Republic of the Congo – The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) warn that the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to face one of the world’s largest and most severe hunger crises.
This is a summary of what was said by the World Food Programme’s (WFP) Assistant Executive Director, Matthew Hollingworth, to whom quoted text may be attributed – at a press briefing in Geneva today.
ROME, Italy – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes a contribution of EUR 10 million from the Government of Spain to help meet urgent needs amid worsening food insecurity driven by conflict and the ripple effect of the escalation in the Middle East.
Belmopan, BELIZE – The Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and New Growth Industries, in collaboration with the National Meteorological Services and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), has activated Belize’s Anticipatory Action (AA) mechanism for drought, following a forecast indicating an increase likelihood of below-average rainfall for the upcoming season. Pre‑identified farmers in the drought‑prone districts of Orange Walk, Corozal, and Cayo in Belize will receive anticipatory cash assistance ahead of the forecasted drought. This early support will enable farmers to take proactive measures, such as investing in water‑storage equipment, drought‑tolerant seeds, or irrigation supplies, enabling them to protect their crops, safeguard their livelihoods, and reduce the impacts of the expected dry conditions before they occur.
VIENTIANE, Lao PDR – The SEADRIF Insurance Company and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) have introduced an innovative, impact-based disaster risk insurance policy in Lao PDR. The policy provides pre-arranged financing of up to US$1.1 million to enable timely support to communities affected by extreme weather and other natural hazards. It complements the government's existing sovereign policy, which provides financial protection for national disaster response efforts.
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – A new implementation research study led by Addis Ababa University (AAU), in collaboration with Ethiopia’s Federal Ministry of Health (MOH) and the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), finds that treating Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM) can be effectively integrated into Ethiopia’s Health Extension Program - bringing essential nutrition services closer to children and families.
N’DJAMENA, Chad – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has announced 28-year-old Chadian taekwondo star Casimir Betel as a High-Level Supporter for its work in Chad. Betel will use his platform and reach among young athletes, sports enthusiasts and local community members in Chad and across Africa to raise awareness of the impacts of acute hunger and WFP’s work.
YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes a contribution of USD 713,333 (393.6 million FCFA) from the Government of Japan to provide urgent food assistance to 22,600 vulnerable people in Cameroon’s Far North and Adamawa regions.
DHAKA, Bangladesh - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has activated its anticipatory action (AA) response to deliver lifesaving cash assistance to communities at risk of severe flooding in Moulvibazar and Habiganj districts, Sylhet Division, in the northeastern haor region of Bangladesh.
MOGADISHU, Somalia - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) thanks the Governments of Belgium, Canada, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Qatar and Switzerland for USD 18.7 million in vital flexible funding for emergency food aid in Somalia. This will enable WFP to continue supporting thousands of drought-affected Somalis with lifesaving food assistance through July. Earlier this year, WFP faced a serious funding shortfall that threatened to halt its humanitarian operations in Somalia in April.
Conflict and displacement drive worsening crisis, with risk of famine in hardest-hit areas; nearly 700,000 children in danger of severe and deadly malnutrition
GODE, Ethiopia - The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the Government of Ethiopia, the German embassy, and KfW Development Bank, today, inaugurated a solar-powered irrigation scheme in Gode, Somali Region - an investment designed to boost year-round food production and help drought-prone communities better withstand climate shocks.
• Emergency food and nutrition: WFP will deliver life saving food assistance including fortified and ready-to-use foods to prevent malnutrition amongst the most vulnerable
• School meals expansion: Funding enables WFP to extend its school meals programme by 100,000 children, primarily in areas of the capital affected by conflict
• Hurricane preparedness: 3,300 metric tonnes of food commodities prepositioned as emergency reserves for 2026 hurricane season
PORT-AU-PRINCE – Through the generous support of the United States Government, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) will deliver emergency food assistance to at least 390,000 people over the next 18 months.
