WHEN WAR HITS, HUNGER STRIKES HARDER
EMERGENCY: Conflict has pushed 77 million innocent civilians to the most extreme levels of hunger imaginable. We urgently need your help to send lifesaving food.
Conflict forces families from their homes, destroys economies, ruins infrastructure and makes food nearly impossible to find or afford. As the recipient of this year’s Nobel Peace Prize, we’re there before, during and after upheaval to help families survive and recover.
of the world’s hungriest people live in conflict zones
of the world’s worst food crises are driven by conflict
of WFP's budget is spent on conflict-affected countries
We're making a difference
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) faces conflict head-on and goes where others can’t. With your support, we reach the most vulnerable people in the world.
Food Aid
WFP provides lifesaving food and specialized nutrition to the most desperate people in conflict zones. From dried grains and beans to fortified powders and high-energy biscuits, we deliver the right food at the right time.
Cash & Vouchers
Sometimes food is still available during conflict but it’s unaffordable because of inflation. That’s when WFP provides cash-based assistance in the form of food vouchers or debit cards so families can buy food locally.
School Meals
In conflict, children are often pulled out of school to help earn money, work around the house or care for younger siblings. Our school meals help keep them in class and provide critical calories they can depend on.
Rebuilding
WFP combines short- and long-term assistance to build back people’s self-reliance. We rehabilitate land, train small-scale farmers, teach job skills and build vital infrastructure like bridges and roads.
The Worst Conflict Zones
Yemen
Yemen is the world’s most dire hunger crisis. Over 70% of the population – 20 million people – don’t know where their next meal is coming from. This includes 2 million children who require treatment for the most severe malnutrition, of which 360,000 are at risk of dying without treatment. WFP works day and night to feed 12 million Yemenis every month.
Source: Yemen Hub Photo: WFP/Annabel Symington
Syria
Nine years of war have pushed most Syrians to extreme levels of poverty and hunger. More than 6 million people are displaced inside the country and another 5.6 million have fled to neighboring countries. Syrian children have borne the brunt of the war’s effects, forcing millions of them out of school. WFP served 9 million Syrians last year.
Source: Syria Hub Photo: WFP/Marwa Awad
Nigeria
Conflict and poverty are wreaking havoc in Nigeria. It houses more extremely poor people than any other country in the world at 90 million with another 10 million on the horizon due to fallout from COVID-19. Over 8.6 million people are food insecure, including 300,000 children who would die without nutrition assistance. Three million people are entirely dependent on WFP for their food.
Source: Nigeria Hub Photo: WFP/Amadou Baraze
The DRC
The DRC is on track to surpass Yemen as the world's worst hunger crisis. Decades of civil war have left millions dead or displaced. The number of severely hungry people has skyrocketed from 13M last year to nearly 22M today, due to a toxic mix of conflict, displacement, disease, economic decline, natural disasters and COVID-19. WFP is trying to reach 9 million of the hungriest people this year.
Source: DRC Hub Photo: WFP/Tara Crossley
South Sudan
Record-high levels of hunger across South Sudan are caused by a deadly combination of man-made conflict and erratic weather. Despite a recent peace agreement, violence continues to grow, forcing families from their homes, jobs and support systems. Since 2015, there have been at least 30 pockets of famine-like conditions. WFP's aid has prevented famine from sweeping across the entire country — but nearly 7 million people, half the population, are still severely food insecure.
Source: South Sudan Hub Photo: WFP/Gabriela Vivacqua
The Sahel
The Central Sahel - comprised of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger - is on the verge of catastrophe. People face a deadly combination of conflict and climate change. More than 7 million don’t know when they’ll eat next and that could double before the end of the year. The number of internally displaced people has risen from 70,000 to nearly 1.6M in less than a year, making it the fastest-growing IDP crisis globally. We're working to assist 5 million of them.
Source: The Sahel Hub
