UN Women Warns 11.7 Million Women Face Food Insecurity
UN Women projects that 11.7 million women and girls across 28 countries face food insecurity due to Middle East escalation and shipping disruptions.
An analysis released by UN Women projects that 22 million additional people could face food insecurity by the end of 2026. Women and girls account for 53 percent of this group, totaling 11.7 million individuals across 28 analyzed countries. The agency attributes the crisis to Middle East escalation and shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which have increased the costs of energy, fertilizer, and transport, subsequently driving up food prices.
South Sudan faces the highest proportional risk, with approximately one in seven women potentially affected. Other high-risk areas include Afghanistan, Yemen, Sudan, Palestine, and Haiti, where conflict and economic vulnerability are most acute. In Afghanistan, women and girls are expected to account for 60 percent of those affected, while similar shares are projected for Yemen and Sudan.
UN Women notes that systemic financial and employment inequalities leave women less able to absorb these shocks. Deputy Executive Director Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda highlighted that women often bear the greatest burden by reducing their own food intake to support family members. The agency is calling for an integrated response that includes targeted food, cash, and agricultural assistance, alongside diplomatic solutions to ensure regional stability.
