UN: 343 million people 'acutely food insecure'

LONDON — The UN's World Food Program (WFP) on Friday called for $16.9 billion to address global food insecurity, which affects 343 million people in 74 countries. In a statement, the WFP warned that hunger is nearing levels that were last seen during the global food crisis sparked by the pandemic. The UN agency has released its 2025 Global Outlook, calling for $16.9 billion to address global food needs and the alarming gap between needs and resources. "WFP's flagship 2025 Global Outlook, launched today, shows that 343 million people across 74 countries are acutely food insecure, a 10 percent increase from last year and just shy of the record hit during the pandemic," the WFP said in a statement. Citing the report, it highlighted that an estimated 1.9 million people are on the brink of famine. "A stream of global crises driven by escalating and overlapping conflicts, climate extremes and economic shocks has brought hunger to record levels, generating an unrelenting demand for humanitarian assistance." However, the agency noted that funding shortfalls in 2024 forced it to scale back activities, often leaving some of the most vulnerable behind. It added that the number of people facing catastrophic hunger, specifically in Gaza and Sudan, as well as parts of South Sudan, Haiti and Mali, has reached alarming levels. "Global humanitarian needs are rising, fuelled by devastating conflicts, more frequent climate disasters, and extensive economic turmoil. Yet funding is failing to keep pace," said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain. The $16.9 billion WFP needs to assist 123 million of the hungriest people in 2025 is roughly what the world spends on coffee in just two weeks, read the statement.