All articles tagged with #world food programme
The United Nations says Hamas-affiliated fighters disrupted a World Food Programme food distribution site in Gaza, entering a warehouse and endangering staff, prompting the WFP to suspend operations at the center and highlighting ongoing humanitarian strain amid the Gaza conflict.
UN food agencies FAO and WFP say acute hunger will worsen in 13 hot spots this year, with Gaza still fragile despite improvement and regions in Yemen, South Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, and Sudan facing heightened famine risk. About 1.6 million people were acutely food insecure earlier this year (roughly 77% of those analyzed). The agencies urge swift, coordinated international action to scale up aid and protect livelihoods, warning that without intervention millions more could face catastrophic hunger by year’s end. The United States has recently renewed funding to WFP and UNICEF to help respond.
The World Food Programme confirmed a cyber-attack exposing personal information (names, IDs, mobile numbers, and location data) of about 600,000 Gazan households via its Palestine self-registration app. The breach, detected in mid-May and announced in late May with public confirmation on June 2, affected only the SRA/People Portal used in Palestine, which WFP shut down to contain the intrusion and bolster security. No group has claimed responsibility. The incident underscores ongoing humanitarian data-security risks in conflict zones and follows broader concerns about protecting beneficiaries’ data and the potential misuse of location information.
Cindy McCain, executive director of the United Nations’s World Food Programme, emphasized the urgent need for food in Gaza amid the ongoing war, citing obstacles to delivering aid and expressing frustration over the rejection of a U.S.-backed resolution for an immediate cease-fire and humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza. The United Nations Security Council's rejection was due to Russia and China voting against it, with concerns raised about the resolution's impact on ensuring an actual and unconditional cease-fire. McCain previously warned of Gaza being on the brink of famine as the conflict continues.
The World Food Programme has halted food deliveries to northern Gaza due to "complete chaos and violence" following the collapse of civil order, with crews facing gunfire and looting. Videos show people rushing to delivery trucks and a girl in tears expressing her longing for bread. The UN has been sounding the alarm about a potential famine in the region since December.
The World Food Programme has halted food deliveries to northern Gaza due to "complete chaos and violence" as aid convoys faced crowds, gunfire, and looting, signaling a "precipitous slide into hunger and disease." The UN agency for Palestinian refugees warned of a looming famine, with reports of unprecedented desperation, acute malnutrition in children, and hunger-related deaths. The WFP urges a major expansion of aid to northern Gaza, calling for increased food volumes, open crossing points, and security for staff and residents, emphasizing the urgent need to prevent famine in the region.
The World Food Programme has halted food aid deliveries to northern Gaza due to unsafe conditions, exacerbating a severe food crisis in the region. UN agencies report acute malnutrition among children and scarce access to food and safe water. The WFP had resumed deliveries but faced attacks and looting, prompting the pause. The situation in Gaza has worsened amid the Israel-Hamas conflict, with the Israeli military offensive and ongoing violence contributing to the humanitarian crisis.
The World Food Programme has reported a dire situation in Sudan, with millions facing acute hunger and reports of people dying of starvation due to the ongoing war cutting off access to aid. Limited humanitarian access and unnecessary hurdles are slowing down relief efforts, with only one in 10 people in conflict areas receiving aid. The agency is calling on Sudan's warring factions to provide security guarantees for unimpeded aid delivery, while also urging the international community to support Sudan and facilitate the delivery of essential aid to the country.
The World Food Programme (WFP) has warned of a "catastrophic hunger crisis" intensifying in Gaza as Israeli military operations escalate. The WFP called for a resumption of the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas that broke down last week, as the renewed fighting makes the distribution of aid almost impossible and endangers the lives of humanitarian workers. The WFP reached approximately 250,000 people in just one week during the previous ceasefire, but this progress is now being lost. The United States has also called for Israel to allow more fuel and humanitarian aid into Gaza, as conditions in the south of the territory worsen.
The United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) has lost communication with their aid teams in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas. WFP chief Cindy McCain expressed concern for the safety of humanitarian workers and civilians, emphasizing the urgent need for access to operate and provide assistance. The recent attacks have hindered the delivery of food assistance to civilians in Gaza. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk announced that the company's Starlink satellite internet service will support internationally recognized aid organizations in Gaza. The international community has been working to supply humanitarian aid to Gaza, but relief operations could be significantly affected due to Israel's blockade of fuel, which is crucial for clean drinking water, functioning hospitals, and life-saving aid operations.
The UN World Food Programme is facing a massive funding shortfall, resulting in reductions in food aid around the world. For every 1% cut in funding, 400,000 people are pushed further into hunger. The program has been cut by half, affecting approximately 20 million people. Rations have been reduced, and some people have been completely cut off from receiving food assistance. The situation is particularly dire in Afghanistan, where 8 million people have been cut from assistance, and another 2 million will be dropped soon. The lack of food assistance not only affects food security but also breeds instability, making it a national security issue. The executive director of the World Food Programme, Cindy McCain, expresses the heartache and frustration of not being able to help those in need. Despite the challenges, there are some success stories in Central America and in programs such as school feeding and cash-based transfers, but overall, there is a critical need for more funding to prevent starvation and promote stability.
The UN's World Food Programme (WFP) has been forced to cut food assistance from 10 million Afghans due to a massive funding shortfall. This month alone, assistance has been cut for 2 million people, leaving only emergency aid for 3 million. The cuts mean that 1.4 million new and expecting mothers and their children are no longer receiving specialized food to prevent malnutrition. WFP estimates that over 36 million people in Afghanistan, around 90% of the population, lack sufficient food, as the Taliban takeover prompted the freezing of $7 billion in foreign reserves. The WFP urgently needs $1 billion in the next 6 months to feed 21 million people.
The World Food Programme (WFP) announced that it will have to remove an additional 2 million hungry people from food assistance in Afghanistan due to a significant funding shortfall, bringing the total number of people cut off from support this year to 10 million. This means that only a fifth of the 15 million people in need will receive food assistance. The Taliban's harsh measures, including the ban on Afghan women working at local and non-governmental organizations, have triggered international outrage and further isolated the country. The WFP is now the last lifeline for many women and children, and the cuts will result in 1.4 million mothers and children losing access to specialized food designed to prevent malnutrition. The WFP urgently needs $1 billion in funding to reach 21 million people with lifesaving food and nutrition assistance over the next six months.
The World Food Programme (WFP) is unable to feed 100,000 Haitians this month due to insufficient funding, exacerbating the worst hunger crisis the country has ever witnessed. Surging food inflation and increased demand for assistance have driven up the cost of delivering aid, while donors have cut funding. Haiti has been engulfed in brutal gang violence since the assassination of its president in July 2021, pushing 4.9 million people into food insecurity. Earthquakes and flooding have further worsened the crisis, but NGOs are scaling back their response due to funding shortages. Without immediate financial support, thousands of vulnerable Haitians will be left without assistance.
The deal allowing Ukraine to export grain via the Black Sea is set to expire on July 17, and with Russia showing no intention of extending it, concerns arise about the potential collapse of the agreement. Ukraine is a major producer of grains and oilseeds, and the interruption of its exports during the war led to a surge in global food prices. The current deal has helped stabilize prices and alleviate the global food crisis. If the agreement ends, prices for staple foods may rise, although improved supplies from other producers like Russia and Brazil have mitigated the impact. The World Food Programme (WFP) relies on the Black Sea corridor for aid shipments, and its closure would force the WFP to seek alternative sources at potentially higher costs. Additionally, Ukraine's grain exports are expected to decline due to reduced harvests, and exporting through the EU poses logistical challenges.