UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that ending global hunger by 2030—a long-standing global target—is achievable but demands urgent, consistent investment.
According to the agency, the world would need to commit $93 billion every year, an amount it notes is less than one per cent of the $21.9 trillion countries collectively poured into military budgets over the past ten years.
In its 2026 Global Outlook, WFP projected a troubling rise in global food insecurity. By 2026, an estimated 318 million people will face crisis-level hunger or worse—more than double the number recorded in 2019. Yet, despite the worsening outlook, the agency says global support remains “slow, fragmented, and underfunded,” leaving millions in conflict-torn or unstable regions at risk of receiving little to no assistance next year.
UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed delivered a stark reminder of who suffers most when global powers clash.
“The poorest pay the ultimate price,” she said. “When the elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.” The African proverb, she explained, mirrors the reality in countries like Sudan, Gaza, Haiti, Yemen, the Sahel, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, where civilians are enduring devastating hardship caused by conflicts they did not start.
“Families are paying the price for wars they did not start, and for decisions made in rooms where their voices are never heard,” Mohammed added.
WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain emphasized the agency’s role as a lifeline for those trapped in war zones, displacement, and climate-induced disasters.
“WFP provides a critical lifeline to people on the frontlines of conflicts and weather disasters, as well as those forced to leave their homes, and we are transforming how we work to invest in long-term solutions to address food insecurity,” she said.
For 2026, WFP aims to assist 110 million vulnerable people at an estimated cost of $13 billion, offering emergency food aid, nutrition programmes, resilience projects, and technical support to help strengthen national food systems.
McCain described the current landscape as unprecedented. “The world is grappling with simultaneous famines in Gaza and parts of Sudan.
“This is completely unacceptable in the twenty-first century,” she stressed.
She warned that hunger is becoming “more entrenched,” even though WFP has repeatedly demonstrated that “early, effective, and innovative solutions can save lives and change lives – but we desperately need more support to continue this vital work.”
Mohammed also highlighted long-term strategies essential to eliminating hunger—from investing in climate adaptation to strengthening local markets and ensuring women and young people have meaningful roles in decision-making. These, she said, must be at the centre of global efforts if hunger is to be truly eradicated.
(NAN)
