Unraveling the Global Hunger Crisis
World Food Program USA’s Spring Statement of Impact provides a snapshot of global hunger from January to May 2025 and how the World Food Programme (WFP) responded.
Today, 343 million people do not know where their next meal will come from. This global hunger crisis is fueled by conflict, extreme weather, displacement and economic instability. Severe funding shortfalls are exacerbating this already dire situation. WFP is being forced to suspend operations or reduce the amount and reach of assistance. Unless new funding is received quickly, 58 million people could lose lifesaving assistance across 28 of WFP’s most critical crisis response operations. Through these challenges, WFP remains committed to saving lives and continues to deliver lifesaving food to families across the globe.
GAZA: At the start of the year, WFP was only meeting a quarter of people’s needs in Gaza due to access restraints and violence. During the ceasefire, from January 19 to March 2, WFP was able to scale up to reach 1 million people with 89 million pounds of food aid – almost three times more than before the pause in fighting. However, fighting soon resumed with devastating consequences for the people of Gaza. For 11 weeks, border crossings were closed to humanitarian aid and commercial supplies.
On May 19, Israel announced it would temporarily allow a limited amount of aid into Gaza after 11 weeks of complete blockade. A handful of WFP-supported bakeries in south and central Gaza quickly resumed production after dozens of trucks were able to collect and deliver cargo. However, it is a drop in the ocean of what is urgently needed. The risk of famine remains across Gaza. We need immediate, unrestricted and safe access to deliver food at scale and save lives.
SUDAN: Awadiya is a mother of five living in a camp for displaced persons in Kassala, Sudan. She cooks porridge for her children with monthly food assistance provided by WFP, which includes rations of lentils, salt, oil and sorghum. Awadiya is just one of the 24.6 million people facing acute hunger in the country because of conflict. The war has forced millions of Sudanese to flee their homes. Hospitals are under-resourced and overwhelmed. People are struggling to survive.
WFP supports over 3 million people in Sudan each month and aims to expand its reach to 7 million people. This year, WFP has managed to reach areas that have been cut off from aid since the conflict began, including greater Khartoum, Gezira state and the Kordofan region. In neighboring countries, WFP has provided lifesaving food to over 1 million refugees.
NIGER: Aïssata is a 13-year-old girl who was displaced from the Bosso area of Niger in 2021. Once settled in the city of Diffa with her family, Aïssata was able to attend school for the first time in her life. While she initially felt isolated and afraid, going to the classroom each day became a source of comfort and hope.
WFP provides two meals a day for Aïssata and her classmates. These meals help them focus on their studies and prepare for a better future. In 2024, WFP reached over 25,000 students in Niger with school meals, including nearly 15,000 girls. For children like Aïssata, school meals are a lifeline. These meals bring stability and an incentive for children to attend and remain in school.
Read the full report to learn more about WFP’s work in Gaza, Sudan, Niger and other places where people are facing hunger crises.
