Africa: Middle East Escalation Could Leave 11.7 Million More Women and Girls Facing Food Insecurity By End-2026
[IPS] Geneva -- Disruption to the Strait of Hormuz is driving up food prices and putting further strain on the livelihoods and household resources of millions of women and girls, according to a new UN Women analysis.
A new report by UN Women warns that escalating tensions in the Middle East could force 11.7 million more women and girls into food insecurity by the end of 2026. The analysis estimates that women and girls currently account for 53% of the projected 22 million additional people facing food shortages across 28 countries. This includes an estimated 208 million women and girls already experiencing food insecurity or malnutrition.
Disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz are driving up energy, fertilizer, and transport costs, which in turn are pushing up food prices. Many women lack the financial resources or employment opportunities to absorb these shocks, with inequalities in employment and access to financial services disproportionately affecting them.
Countries like South Sudan, Sudan, Haiti, Yemen, and Palestine face the most concentrated risks, with women and girls representing over 14% of the population in South Sudan. Employment also plays a significant role, with many women, particularly in Afghanistan and Yemen, working in vulnerable conditions or not at all. UN Women emphasizes the need for an integrated response that addresses food and cash assistance, nutrition, protection, livelihoods, and agricultural support while ensuring women have equal access to resources.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
