World Food Programme (WFP)

The World Food Programme is the UN’s main food assistance agency, delivering emergency food aid and supporting nutrition and school feeding programs worldwide. - Implementing large-scale ration cuts due to funding shortfalls

In December 2025, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) cut its 2026 humanitarian appeal to roughly $33 billion, down from $47 billion requested for 2025, after governments provided only about $15 billion in 2025 – the lowest level of support in a decade. Just three weeks later, however, the United States pledged a landmark $2 billion to OCHA-managed funds, providing roughly two-thirds of the funding needed to reach 87 million people in the most catastrophic need. The new plan concentrates resources on the worst emergencies, including over $4.1 billion for Palestinian areas, $2.9 billion for Sudan, and $2.8 billion for the regional Syria response. In early February 2026, the World Health Organization launched a separate $1 billion appeal for 36 health emergencies – down one-third from the prior year – after reaching only one-third of its 2025 targets due to collapsed funding.

Updated Feb 4

UN agency leading food security response across affected southern African nations. - Coordinating humanitarian response

Torrential rains driven by La Niña have killed more than 200 people across Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe since late December 2025. South Africa declared a national disaster on January 18, 2026, after floods killed at least 37 in Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and other provinces, destroyed thousands of homes, and washed away roads and bridges. President Ramaphosa conducted site visits to both Limpopo and Mpumalanga, warning that climate change is now forcing governments to prepare for annual disaster recovery.

Updated Jan 21