Ripple effects from the war on Iran are worsening global hunger, with millions more vulnerable people at risk of crisis-level food insecurity, World Food Programme (WFP) Acting Executive Director Carl Skau told CNN in a report released on Wednesday.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has sharply increased fuel costs, raising the expense of the UN agency’s operations and driving up food prices worldwide. It has also disrupted fertiliser shipments from the Gulf, affecting crop production in countries such as Sudan.
These pressures come as the WFP faces severe funding shortages. “In many places, we’re already taking from the hungry to give to the starving,” Skau said.
The agency, which depends on government donations, has experienced a steep decline in support, including from its largest donor, the US. US funding for 2026 stands at about $731 million, compared with more than $4 billion in 2024.
