As the world is slammed by natural disasters, conflict, drought, economic shocks, and more, the World Food Programme faces unprecedented funding shortfalls which are forcing it to make impossible decisions about who gets food and who doesn’t.
This leaves the U.N. agency — which is the world’s largest humanitarian organization — with no other option but to cut the amount of food and cash it provides in all regions of the world. It is also reducing its number of beneficiaries and ceasing food distributions in some geographic areas altogether as it tries to increase funding from the private sector and individual donors.
Decisions about where to cut assistance are being made at the country level, with WFP officials in places from Yemen to Chad to Palestine cutting distribution to millions already. It comes as inflation has driven food and fuel costs higher worldwide, meaning aid recipients are forced to do much more with diminishing amounts of assistance.
About the author
Teresa Welshtmawelsh
Teresa Welsh is a Senior Reporter at Devex. She has reported from more than 10 countries and is currently based in Washington, D.C. Her coverage focuses on Latin America; U.S. foreign assistance policy; fragile states; food systems and nutrition; and refugees and migration. Prior to joining Devex, Teresa worked at McClatchy's Washington Bureau and covered foreign affairs for U.S. News and World Report. She was a reporter in Colombia, where she previously lived teaching English. Teresa earned bachelor of arts degrees in journalism and Latin American studies from the University of Wisconsin.
