UN’s World Food Program warns donor cuts are pushing millions more into hunger
GENEVA — GENEVA (AP) — The U.N. food aid agency said Wednesday that deep funding cuts from its major donors are hurting its operations in six countries and warned that nearly 14 million people could find themselves facing emergency levels of hunger.
The World Food Program, traditionally the U.N.’s most funded agency, said in a new report that its funding this year “has never been more contested” — largely because of cuts in U.S. spending under the Trump administration and other major Western donors.
It warned that 13.7 million of its food aid recipients could find themselves facing emergency famine levels due to funding cuts. Countries facing “major disruptions” include Afghanistan, Congo, Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan, the statement said.
“We are watching the lifeline of millions of people disintegrate before our eyes,” said Executive Director Cindy McCain.
The WFP said it expects to receive 40% less funding this year, which would result in a projected budget of $6.4 billion – after receiving some $10 billion last year.
“It’s not just a funding gap – it’s a reality gap between what we need to do and what we can afford to do,” McCain said. “We risk losing decades of progress in the fight against hunger. »
The Rome-based agency says world hunger is already at record levels, with 319 million people facing acute food insecurity, including 44 million in emergencies. Famine broke out in Gaza and Sudan.
In Afghanistan, food aid reaches fewer than 10% of people who are food insecure, meaning they don’t know where their next meal will come from, the agency said.
The WFP says it has received about $1.5 billion from the United States this year, up from nearly $4.5 billion last year, while other major donors have also cut funding.
Many UN organizations, including migration, health and refugee agencies, have announced sharp reductions in aid and staffing this year due to reduced support from traditional large donors. The humanitarian aid community has also been hit by sharp budget cuts to the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID.
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Corrects to make clear that WFP received approximately $1.5 billion from the United States this year, not that this is the amount the agency expected.
