NEW YORK CITY: The World Food Programme warned on Wednesday that a sharp decrease in funding is pushing food aid operations in crisis-hit countries, including Gaza, Sudan and Yemen, toward collapse, risking famine among millions of people already on the brink of starvation.
In a report titled “A Lifeline at Risk,” WFP officials said unprecedented funding shortfalls are forcing the agency to slash rations, suspend vital food distributions, and cut entire populations off from aid in six of the world’s most fragile places: Gaza, Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Somalia and Afghanistan.
“Across these six countries, we’re seeing people completely cut off from assistance,” said Ross Smith, director of emergency preparedness and response.
“These are the most vulnerable, living in the most fragile settings. We are at a breaking point.”
Jean-Martin Bauer, the organization’s director of food security and nutrition analysis, joined Smith in warning that projections suggest 13.7 million people will fall into emergency levels of hunger this year alone as a direct result of funding cuts.
