UN food agency warns aid cuts risk pushing 13.7 million people into extreme hunger

The World Food Program (WFP) warned that six key operations – in Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Haiti, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan – “are currently facing major disruptions, which will only get worse by year-end”. “WFP is facing a staggering 40 percent reduction in funding, with projections of $6.4 billion compared to $9.8 billion in 2024,” the Rome-based agency wrote in a new report. “The humanitarian system is under severe strain as partners pull back from frontline locations, creating a vacuum,” it added. It did not name any one country, but noted a report in The Lancet medical journal about the huge impact of cuts to US assistance. Donald Trump slashed foreign aid after returning as US president in January, dealing a heavy blow to humanitarian operations worldwide. “Programme coverage has been slashed and rations cut. Life-saving assistance to households in Catastrophe (IPC Phase 5) is at risk, while preparedness for future shocks has dropped ...