The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has warned of a $13 billion shortfall that could severely impact its ability to feed one-third of the 318 million people facing acute hunger by 2026. Due to declining humanitarian funding, WFP says it will have to prioritize food assistance for about 110 million people, leaving millions without support. The agency expects to receive only about half of its required funding based on current projections. The United States remains WFP’s largest donor, but reductions in foreign aid under previous administrations, along with budget cuts by several European nations, have worsened the crisis. Conflict, extreme weather, and economic instability have doubled the number of people facing severe hunger since 2019. WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recently identified 16 global hunger hotspots, including Gaza, Sudan, Haiti, and South Sudan, warning that funding shortages are already exacerbating conditions. WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain called the situation “unacceptable in the 21st century.”