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Severe hunger is now threatening 300 million people worldwide, a figure that continues to climb, according to Carl Skau, Acting Executive Director of the UN World Food Program (WFP).

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The escalations and disruptions in the region have pushed up fuel costs significantly, making both our operations and the price of food globally more expensive.

Skau warned that regional escalations and disruptions have significantly driven up fuel costs. This directly impacts both WFP's operations and global food prices. "When the price of food goes up by 20 percent, people often eat 20 percent less," he explained. "Where we work, many people are already surviving on just one meal a day to begin with, so this has an immediate and serious impact."

The rising costs also make it more expensive for the WFP to procure and deliver food. Shipping expenses have increased by approximately 25 percent due to the necessity of using longer and costlier routes. "These global shocks are felt the most by people already going through crises," Skau noted, citing Yemen, which relies heavily on imports, and Gaza, where access was already limited and infrastructure destroyed.

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When the price of food goes up by 20 percent, people often eat 20 percent less. Where we work, many people are already surviving on just one meal a day to begin with, so this has an immediate and serious impact.

In Sudan, the impact will be long-term as fertilizers needed for planting are stuck, preventing local food production while aid delivery struggles. This situation unfolds against a backdrop of a historic funding gap, forcing the WFP into "impossible decisions on who to reach." Skau stated, "We are prioritizing emergency assistance to people, but that means taking away food from the hungry to go to the starving."

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These global shocks are felt the most by people already going through crises. Like Yemen, which relies heavily on imports, or Gaza, where access was already limited, infrastructure destroyed, and people are relying on what comes through the borders.

Despite operating at scale and supporting millions, Skau stressed that without urgent funding and sustained humanitarian access, the WFP faces scaling back assistance when needs are at their peak. He highlighted the critical role of partnerships, particularly with countries like Saudi Arabia, which he described as a major donor and key partner in supporting regional stability and humanitarian action.

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All of this is happening while we are facing a historic funding gap, which is further constraining our ability to respond. We are making impossible decisions on who to reach. We are prioritizing emergency assistance to people, but that means taking away food from the hungry to go to the starving.