Food security in the Middle East continues to deteriorate, even as global hunger rates decline, according to a new report from United Nations agencies. The region faces unique challenges, including conflict, inflation, currency instability, and a heavy dependence on food imports, which have left millions more vulnerable to hunger. Countries affected by war, such as Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, are experiencing acute food shortages, with Gaza's cropland now almost entirely inaccessible and warnings of impending famine.

Economic pressures, including declining real wages and persistent food price inflation, have worsened the situation in low- and middle-income countries. Currency depreciation and disrupted supply chains have driven up the cost of imported staples like wheat, especially in Egypt, where purchasing power has dropped sharply. Market power and limited competition further delay the benefits of falling global prices, entrenching inflation and reducing access to healthy diets.

The social impact is severe, with poorer households forced to cut back on nutrition, leading to rising child malnutrition and long-term health issues. Women, often responsible for household food budgets, bear the brunt by sacrificing their own meals. The report warns that without urgent reforms and targeted support, the region risks missing key development goals, including ending hunger and improving nutrition by 2030.