UN Warns of Record Global Hunger Risk Due to Prolonged Iranian Conflict

Global Food Insecurity on the Rise Due to Iran Conflict

The United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) has warned that up to 45 million more people could face acute hunger by the middle of 2026 if the conflict in Iran does not ease. This would take the total number of people in acute food insecurity to a record 363 million, surpassing the levels seen after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The disruption to maritime traffic in the Gulf, particularly in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, is already increasing energy, fuel, and fertilizer costs, exacerbating hunger beyond the Middle East. This could have a ripple effect on global energy and food markets, impacting the most vulnerable populations in countries such as Sudan and Somalia, where prices of essential commodities have already soared.

Nations in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, which are heavily reliant on food and fuel imports, are most exposed to the fallout from the conflict. The WFP projects that the number of food-insecure people in these regions is set to jump by about 20%.

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The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) also warned that fertilizer shortages and higher energy costs threaten crop yields, potentially triggering cross-commodity price contagion and further raising food prices in low-income, import-dependent countries. The FAO estimates that global fertilizer prices could average 15% to 20% higher in the first half of 2026 if the crisis continues.

Potential shifts to biofuel production, spurred by oil price spikes, could amplify food price volatility, particularly in Africa, Asia, and other import-dependent regions. The FAO's warning highlights the urgent need for a resolution to the conflict to prevent a global food security crisis.