Rome, March 18 (SANA) The World Food Program (WFP) warned in a report released Wednesday, that global levels of acute food insecurity could reach record highs this year, driven by the fallout from escalating tensions in the Middle East and wider regional instability.
The UN agency said the continuation of conflict could push an additional 45 million people to the brink of severe hunger, adding to the 318 million already facing acute food insecurity worldwide.
The report said disruptions to key shipping routes have increased the cost of energy, fuel and fertilizers, placing further pressure on food production and global supply chains.
Countries reliant on food imports in Africa and Asia are expected to be most affected, with food insecurity projected to rise by between 17 percent and 24 percent in those regions.
Experts warned that continued military escalation in the Middle East, described as a critical hub for global energy flows, could trigger new inflationary waves that would disproportionately affect developing countries and heighten the risk of a broader humanitarian crisis.
They called for urgent international action to ensure the continued flow of food supplies and to mitigate the risk of a large-scale humanitarian emergency.
R.H
