WFP “severe funding shortages” force food rationing and program closures in hunger-stricken countries

01 Jun 2023 --- Calamitously high food prices have overstretched the UN World Food Program’s (WFP) capabilities to feed the increasing number of food-insecure nations. The international organization has had to take painful decisions due to the lack of funds.

This week WFP’s director in Tanzania, Sarah Gordon-Gibson, announced that more than 200,000 refugees in the country will soon have to endure half rations, as the international body seeks US$21 million in funding to cover the next six months’ expenses.

Last week the WFP temporarily suspended its cash assistance to Syrian refugees in Lebanon. Similarly, Rohingya refugees are facing cuts in food assistance in Bangladesh as are Congolese refugees in Burundi. 

Alleging a “severe” shortage of funds last month, the WFP also suspended food aid to 200,000 Palestinians.. 

In Sudan, the war is preventing the WFP from delivering food to parts of the country’s capital, Khartoum. However, the organization says that it has been able to distribute foodstuffs in parts of its metropolitan area, aiding 12,445 people.

Similarly, long-lasting conflict in Somalia paired with drought has led to record food assistance needs in the country. In April, the WFP decided to cut the reach of its program from 4.7 million people to 1.8 million by July due to funding shortfalls. 

The WFP flags that it urgently requires US$810 million over the next six months to keep life-saving assistance in the Horn of Africa.

WFP team hands out food to refugees from Sudan. (Image Credits: WFP/Elsayed Mohamed).Meanwhile, the ongoing eight-year civil war in Yemen has left 80% of the nations facing high levels of food insecurity, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. In February, UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, pleaded to the international community for US$4.3 billion in funds to feed the country this year. The initiative is, as of now, 24% funded.

Programs in other countries, such as Myanmar or Mali, urgently need more funds.

“Not only are more people in more places around the world going hungry, but the severity of the hunger they face is worse than ever,” said Cindy McCain, WFP’s executive director, earlier this week.

Shaky truce in Sudan
A fragile ceasefire in Sudan is allowing some aid to reach parts of Khartoum. However, according to the Agence France-Presse, some military clashes and air strikes are still ongoing.

A spokesperson of Action Against Hunger reveals more on the situation in Sudan for NutritionInsight.

“The current conflict in Sudan has compounded the hunger levels which existed in the country even before the fighting began – Sudan has one of the highest rates of malnutrition in the world, with approximately three million children under five suffering from malnutrition annually.

Furthermore, the spokesperson states that the need to quell the fighting takes on a new urgency as the country’s planting season begins today.

“As areas suitable for farming are cut off by the fighting, the prices of basic food items like sorghum and millet continue to skyrocket due to lack of supply.”

“With 80% of the population employed in the farming sector in the country, the effects on the economy, unemployment rates and therefore people’s ability to put food on their tables will be stark. In fact, the number of people who don’t have access to enough food is projected to rise in the country by 2.5 million.”

WFP funding 
The WFP received US$14.17 billion in donations in 2022, up from US$9.6 billion in 2021, with over half of the contributions (US$7.24 billion) coming from the US. 

This year the organization estimates it would need US$19.7 billion to target 150.5 million beneficiaries. However, the WFP forecasted in September that it would fundraise US$11 billion in 2023.Currency depreciation is isolating countries like Lebanon, which can't afford to compete in free markets.

The organization has received US$3.62 billion in contributions so far this year. At the current funding rate, the organization will raise under US$9 billion for the year, less than half of what it needs to fund its program, which has led to the WFP already cutting operations in multiple nations.

“The global economy is expected to slow down in 2023 – amid monetary tightening in advanced economies – increasing the cost of credit. Despite a year-long easing of international food [commodity] prices, domestic prices remain high, amid low foreign currency reserves in many countries, restricting imports,” explains the WFP.

It is important to note that while food commodity prices are lower, food prices continue to rise. A food basket in Eastern Africa cost 40% more in March 2023 than one year ago.

Low foreign currency reserves limit access to markets in many countries, with Pakistan, Egypt and Sri Lanka being forced to take IMF loans to continue buying food at higher prices.

“Limited economic access is likely to be further compounded by the overall reduction in donor support to offset global hunger,” the WFP underscores.

Furthermore, Action Against Hunger underscores how world leaders are aware of the situation but need to do more.

“However, the release of commensurate funding for programs to allow local communities to survive and thrive long into the future has nowhere near met the scale of need.”

“Ultimately, spending on aid needs to increase to 0.7% of Gross National Income in the UK – a reduction made no sense when needs are only increasing. We are also calling to once again have an independent department responsible for the UK’s development assistance.”

The UK cut aid spending from the UN-suggested 0.7% to 0.5% in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, according to the UK government, aid spending will remain “around 0.5%” until at least 2027 or 2028.

Burkina Faso, Haiti, Mali and Sudan are elevated to the highest level of concern in the last Hunger Hotspots WFP report. (WFP/Cheick Omar Bandaogo).More hunger hotspots 
A new report of the WFP in collaboration with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization puts 22 countries as “Hunger Hotspots,” up from 18, from the last report published in September.

Of the 22 hotspots, the WFP says that in 18 “acute food insecurity is likely to deteriorate further.”

Furthermore, Burkina Faso, Haiti, Mali and Sudan are elevated to the highest level of concern considered by the WFP.

In all of the hotspots at the highest level, people are already facing or at risk of starvation. “Or are at risk of sliding toward catastrophic conditions, given they already have emergency levels of food insecurity amid severe aggravating factors,” explains the WFP.

“Unless we manage to maintain the levels of humanitarian support we did last year, the gap between those we can feed and those who need is going to increase,” says Michael Dunford, regional director for the WFP in East Africa.

“My fear is that it’s going to get worse,” he stresses.

The lack of funds is also compounded by extreme weather, with Cyclone Mocha leaving a trail of devastation in Myanmar and the Horn of Africa, which experienced the longest drought in recorded history – with five consecutive failed rainy seasons – only to have it replaced recently with devastating flash floods.

“Conflict, climate extremes and economic shocks – the Horn of Africa region is facing multiple crises simultaneously,” noted Dunfort.

“We know that once a famine is declared, it is already too late,” concludes the Action Against Hunger spokesperson.

By Marc Cervera