Urgent calls for cash transfers, with no questions asked, came on Tuesday as the United Nations’ World Food Program highlighted the dire situation of severe hunger affecting a significant number of people in 2026.
“Decreasing global humanitarian funding is forcing WFP to prioritize food assistance to the 110 million most vulnerable people, approximately one-third of those in need,” it stated in a release.
The agency estimated that addressing this issue would require $13 billion, but noted that, “based on current funding projections, WFP may only receive about half of its target amount.”
The largest donor to WFP is the United States, which, under President Trump, reduced foreign aid, impacting contributions to U.N. agencies. Several European nations are also cutting back on their humanitarian budgets, as reported.
Trump’s decisions stem from a broader strategy to hold the U.N. accountable for its expenditures and extensive funding needs.
According to WFP, 318 million people are experiencing severe hunger due to a mix of conflict, extreme weather events, and economic challenges, more than doubling the number recorded in 2019.
This year, U.N. agencies declared famine conditions in parts of Gaza and Sudan, a situation that WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain described as “completely unacceptable in the 21st century.” In the foreword to WFP’s 2026 World Outlook Report, she expressed frustration that the global response to this crisis remains “slow, piecemeal, and underfunded.”
She added, “Global aid currently covers less than half of total demand, and food aid has been significantly reduced. Food and cash needs are being cut in nearly every operation, necessitating a more selective approach to who receives aid.”
“Meanwhile, attacks on aid workers have escalated, indicating an alarming disregard for international humanitarian law.”
The United Nations’ annual budget is divided into a regular budget for core functions and a separate budget for peacekeeping efforts, which follow different accounting timelines.
The preliminary budget for 2025 is around $3.7 billion, while the peacekeeping budget for 2025-2026 stands at approximately $5.38 billion.
Recent data showed that the United Nations employs over 133,000 individuals across its various organizations, including specialized agencies like the World Food Program and UNICEF, marking a notable increase from previous years.
