Republic of Korea provides USD 7.8 million flexible contribution to support WFP’s life-saving operations worldwide

Core funding allows WFP to determine where resources are most urgently needed, enabling agile and strategic assistance to the world’s most vulnerable communities. This vital funding helps WFP carry out anticipatory action before disasters strike, procure and deliver food swiftly in the immediate aftermath of crises, and reach high-risk areas where access is limited – saving lives in emergencies and changing lives in vulnerable communities.

The Republic of Korea first partnered with WFP more than 60 years ago, at a time when the country was recovering from the Korean War and facing severe food shortages. From 1964 to 1984, WFP implemented food assistance and development programmes in the Republic of Korea, helping to build a strong foundation for the country’s recovery and economic growth. Having developed with the support of WFP and the international community, the Republic of Korea was one of WFP’s top five government donors in 2025, giving back to the world the support it once received and serving as a shining example of overcoming hunger.

This year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also launched Phase II of the Responding with Emergency Assistance for Conflict-Affected Households (REACH) initiative, providing USD 30 million in emergency food and nutrition assistance to seven countries on the frontlines of conflict and disaster. This contribution is helping WFP meet urgent food and nutrition needs in some of the world’s most crisis-affected areas, while also supporting communities on their path to recovery.

Today, global hunger remains at alarming levels. An estimated 266 million people are facing acute food insecurity, driven by conflict, economic shocks and climate-related disasters. Among them, 45 million people are at risk of acute hunger linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, where escalating instability continues to disrupt food systems, livelihoods and access to humanitarian assistance. As humanitarian needs surge while global funding declines, the Republic of Korea’s contribution will play a pivotal role in protecting lives and addressing hunger where the needs are greatest.

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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of weather extremes.