Why are more people facing hunger?

Hunger is on the rise. Around the world, 333 million individuals don’t know when or if they will eat again. That’s more than the entire population of the United States. A series of factors, including conflict, economic shocks, and climate change are to blame.

This creates a growing need for humanitarian and development assistance. But the funding available for such actions is running low, forcing WFP and other humanitarian organisations to scale back life-saving assistance.

Hunger solutions that have an impact

Hunger solutions exist to save the lives of those most at risk and help communities meet their own food needs in the long term. In 2022, the World Food Programme reached approximately 160 million people. Our food and nutrition programs save lives during emergencies. But in order to break the cycle of recurring crises, we also prioritise programmes that help communities build long-term resilience, adapt to a changing climate, promote good nutrition and strengthen food systems.

Hunger Crisis Meets Funding Crisis

Supporting millions of the world’s hungriest people and helping millions more cope with conflict, climate change and poverty requires billions of dollars every year. WFP operations are entirely funded through the voluntary contributions of donor governments, institutions, corporations and individuals. But amidst global economic challenges, many government donors and other partners are reducing levels of support. Facing this historic funding shortfall, assistance cuts are becoming the norm in many WFP operations.
  • Sharifa, 30, is one of thousands of people who live in informal settlements across Kabul. Her husband died in an accident years ago, leaving her widowed with 5 children to feed. Like most families in the settlement, all she has to her name is a single mud-brick room with a carpet as a makeshift door. Now, due to the current restrictions imposed by the de facto authorities, she cannot leave her home or work. She is left to rely on her children to eat.
    “We just eat less, and sometimes not at all”
    Afghanistan
  • Sudanese refugees who fled the conflict in Sudan receive WFP food assistance at the Zabout Refugee Camp.
    "This is the price innocent people pay for war"
    Chad
  • Displaced by conflict, Anoinette and her family find safety in a camp for displaced people in Bunai, Itury province, DRC.
    'We call it extreme prioritization - assisting fewer people for less time'
    DRC
  • A girl waits for her mother to pick up a cash grant at a distribution point near Les Cayes - WFP needs US$122.9 million to respond over the next six months in Haiti.
    “Haiti’s hunger crisis is unseen, unheard, and unaddressed”
    Haiti
  • Aker, 32, feds her child at a transit centre in South Sudan - over 350,000 people have crossed into South Sudan from Sudan since the conflict broke out in April 2023.
    More South Sudanese than ever face hunger amid climate crisis, conflict
    South Sudan

The human cost of the funding crisis

Each 1% cut to WFP's assistance leads to another 400K people taking a step towards famine

WFP assistance provides a lifeline for millions of hungry people around the world. Cuts in humanitarian funding put this lifeline at risk.



With limited resources, WFP is forced to prioritise assistance to the starving, while millions of other hungry people no longer receive the support they need.

Our data shows that each 1% reduction in WFP's assistance could push an additional 400,000 people closer to famine. The cost of inaction is too high to ignore.

How can you help raise awareness?

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BE PART OF THE SOLUTION

In addition to donating directly to WFP's global operations, there are other ways to get involved and help fight the hunger crisis.