UN's World Food Program warns donor cuts are pushing millions more into
hunger
[October 15, 2025]
GENEVA (AP) — The United Nations' food aid agency said Wednesday
that severe funding cuts from its top donors are hurting its operations
in six countries and warned that nearly 14 million people could be
forced into emergency levels of hunger.
The World Food Program, traditionally the U.N.'s most-funded agency,
said in a new report that its funding this year “has never been more
challenged” — largely due to slashed outlays from the U.S. under the
Trump administration and other leading Western donors.
It warned that that 13.7 million of its food aid recipients could be
forced into emergency levels of hunger as funding is cut. The countries
facing “major disruptions” are Afghanistan, Congo, Haiti, Somalia, South
Sudan and Sudan, it said.
“We are watching the lifeline for millions of people disintegrate before
our eyes,” Executive Director Cindy McCain said.
WFP said it expects to receive 40% less funding this year, leading to a
projected budget of $6.4 billion — after receiving some $10 billion last
year.
“This is not just a funding gap – it’s a reality gap between what we
need to do and what we can afford to do,” McCain said. “We are at risk
of losing decades of progress in the fight against hunger."
The Rome-based agency says global hunger is already at record levels,
with 319 million people facing acute food insecurity — including 44
million at emergency levels. Famine has broken out in Gaza and Sudan.
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A man scoops up portions of wheat to be allocated to each waiting
family after distribution by the U.N. World Food Programme (WFP) in
the Gendrassa Refugee Camp, Maban, South Sudan, Wednesday, Aug. 20,
2025. (AP Photo/Caitlin Kelly, File)
In Afghanistan, food assistance is reaching less than 10% of people who
are food insecure — meaning that they don't know where their next meal
will come from, the agency said.
WFP says it has received about $1.5 billion from the United States this
year, down from nearly $4.5 billion last year, while other top donors
have also cut funding.
Many United Nations organizations, including the migration, health and
refugee agencies, have announced sharp aid and staffing cuts this year
because of reduced support from traditional big donors. The humanitarian
aid community has also been affected by sharp cuts to the U.S. Agency
for International Development, or USAID.
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