RAMALLAH, October 3, 2026 (WAFA) — UN Women has warned that an additional 11.7 million women and girls across 28 countries could face food insecurity by the end of the year amid the repercussions of the ongoing escalation in the Middle East and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, which have driven up food prices and damaged livelihoods.

In a new analysis, the agency said that around 22 million additional people could face food insecurity under a moderate-impact scenario, with women and girls accounting for 53 percent of them. They would join approximately 208 million women and girls already experiencing food insecurity or malnutrition in the countries covered by the study.

Neradzayi Gumbonzvanda, UN Women’s Deputy Executive Director, said the most populous countries have the largest numbers of women and girls at risk of food insecurity, while countries including Sudan, South Sudan, Yemen, Palestine, and Haiti face high levels of risk due to the overlapping effects of conflict, displacement, and economic vulnerability.

She stressed that women and girls often bear the greatest burden during food crises, reducing their food intake or skipping meals to meet the needs of other family members, while continuing to face gaps in employment, access to financial services, and economic resources.

UN Women called for an integrated response that includes strengthening food and cash assistance, protection and livelihood programs, and agricultural support; directing resources to the most vulnerable areas; and improving the collection of data on the conditions of women and girls to identify those most affected.

Gumbonzvanda stressed that addressing the crisis requires not only humanitarian efforts, but also peace and security, de-escalation, and support for diplomatic solutions capable of promoting stability at the regional and international levels.

Y.S