WFP warns of worsening food insecurity in 2026 as Middle East conflict rages on

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has warned that the total number of people worldwide facing acute levels of hunger could reach record levels in 2026 if the escalation in the Middle East continues to destabilize the global economy.

The U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict has delayed the delivery of desperately needed food for aid operations worldwide. Disruptions in global supply chains have prevented tens of thousands of tons of food aid from reaching countries in urgent need.

The WFP estimated that in addition to the 318 million people already food insecure worldwide, nearly 45 million more people could face acute food insecurity or worse if the conflict does not end by the middle of the year, and if oil prices remain above 100 U.S. dollars a barrel.

According to this analysis, vulnerable families in many parts of the world could soon find themselves unable to obtain sustenance, because energy disruptions and food markets are closely linked.

The unfolding situation in the Strait of Hormuz is reportedly already driving up the costs of energy, fuel and fertilizers, exacerbating hunger concerns beyond the Middle East.

Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia have been deemed the most vulnerable due to a reliance on food and fuel imports.

WFP projections indicated an increase of 21 percent in food-insecure people for West and Central Africa, and 17 percent for East and Southern Africa.

Analysts also warned that if the Middle East conflict is not contained in the short term, food insecurity could be catastrophic in the long-term for some of the world's most vulnerable countries and populations.

The United States' international trade deficit in goods and services was 57.3 billion U.S. dollars in February, up 4.9 percent from January, according to data released by the U.S. Department of Commerce on Thursday.

The country's imports of goods and services increased by 4.3 percent month on month to 372.1 billion U.S. dollars in February, as the surging demand for artificial intelligence and data center construction significantly boosted imports of products such as computers and semiconductors.

U.S. exports of goods and services in February rose by 4.2 percent month on month to 314.8 billion U.S. dollars, mainly driven by increases in exports of non-monetary gold and natural gas.