UN Warns 45 Million Could Face Famine If Middle East Conflict Continues

Kathmandu. The United Nations warned on Tuesday that an additional 45 million people could face famine if the Middle East conflict continues through June.

Hundreds have died by the third week of the war, and Israel is also fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon after Iran launched retaliatory strikes against Israel and Gulf nations.

“If the Middle East conflict continues through June, an additional population of 45 million will be pushed towards acute famine due to rising prices,” said Carl Skau, Deputy Executive Director of the UN World Food Programme (WFP), at a press conference in Geneva.

“This will push global hunger levels to an all-time high, and this is a terrible prospect,” he said, adding, “Already, 31.9 million people are suffering from acute food insecurity.”

Skau stated that the WFP was already facing a 'widespread food crisis' before the war began on February 28. Due to extreme weather events, conflict, and declarations of famine, he said, “Famine has never been as severe as it is now.”

He noted that the Middle East war is making WFP's work 'very expensive.' Skau said, “The organization is trying to cope with supply chain disruptions, especially due to rising fuel prices and longer routes, but its operating costs have increased.”