November 19, 2025
The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that Ending Hunger by 2030 will cost at least $93 billion annually, an amount representing less than one per cent of the $21.9 trillion spent globally on military budgets in the past decade.
According to the WFP’s 2026 Global Outlook, more than 318 million people will face crisis-level hunger or worse by 2026, double the number recorded in 2019. The report links this surge to conflicts, economic instability, and climate-driven disasters, noting that current international support remains slow, fragmented, and underfunded, undermining the goal of Ending Hunger.
Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, said the poorest communities continue to carry the burden of global instability: “When powerful nations clash, the weakest suffer most.” She highlighted that civilians across Sudan, Gaza, Haiti, Yemen, the Sahel, and the Democratic Republic of Congo are enduring devastating levels of deprivation, further complicating efforts toward Ending Hunger.
WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain stressed that the agency remains a crucial lifeline for communities facing conflict, displacement, and climate shocks. In 2026, the WFP aims to assist 110 million vulnerable people at a cost of $13 billion, providing food aid, nutrition support, resilience programmes, and technical assistance to strengthen national systems. She warned that without decisive global investment, Ending Hunger will become even harder.
McCain described the emergence of simultaneous famines, such as in Gaza and parts of Sudan, as unacceptable in the modern era. She urged the global community to support early, effective, and innovative interventions, emphasising that Ending Hunger requires both emergency relief and long-term sustainability.
Mohammed added that solutions must focus on climate adaptation, peacebuilding, empowering women and young people, and strengthening local markets. Such investments, she said, are essential for Ending Hunger and preventing future crises.
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