WFP confirms need for $16.9 billion in funding

The United Nations World Food Programme said on Saturday it needs $16.9 billion in funding to address the escalating global hunger crisis.

This call comes on the heels of the programme’s release of the Global Outlook 2025 report, which assesses global food security needs.

According to the United Nations News Center, the Executive Director of the World Food Program, Cindy McCain, said, “Global humanitarian needs are increasing, due to devastating conflicts, more frequent climate disasters, and widespread economic turmoil, yet funding is failing to keep pace.”

According to the programme, hunger continues to rise, with 343 million people in 74 countries suffering from acute food insecurity, a 10% increase over last year.

The program confirmed that the $16.9 billion in funding would allow the organization to feed 123 million of the world's hungriest people in 2025.

Earlier, the UN programme announced its need for $1.5 billion to meet humanitarian needs in 2025, stressing that food insecurity in Yemen has risen to unprecedented levels.