Rome — June 5, 2026 — The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has confirmed that its early warnings about the Middle East crisis have become reality, with millions of vulnerable families now being pushed deeper into hunger.
In March, WFP projected that 45 million people could fall into acute food insecurity if the conflict continued and oil prices remained high. A new report, Food Security Under Pressure: How the Middle East Crisis is Impacting Vulnerable Countries, shows this scenario is unfolding. An additional 2.5 million people in Somalia, 1.3 million in Sri Lanka, and 2.3 million in Afghanistan are struggling to meet basic food needs, with many already facing acute hunger.
WFP Director of Food Security and Nutrition Analysis Jean-Martin Bauer stressed: “We warned that this crisis could push millions more people into hunger; now we are watching it happen in real time. In many cases, the poorest families around the world, far from the center of the crisis, are being hit the hardest.”
Countries highly dependent on imports or already facing conflict and climate shocks are among the most exposed. While food remains available in markets, soaring costs mean families cannot afford essentials. Fertilizer shortages and high fuel prices are expected to further reduce crop yields, driving food prices higher in the months ahead.
The report also highlights the strain on the global humanitarian system. WFP is facing rising needs, increased delivery costs, and shrinking funding, forcing it to cut assistance to 1.5 million fewer people than planned in 2026. If the crisis continues, more than 9 million people could lose support.
WFP is urgently calling for increased resources to match growing humanitarian needs, warning that without action, vulnerable families risk being driven into a catastrophic hunger emergency.
