The escalating conflict in the Middle East and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz may lead to an additional 11.7 million women and girls facing food insecurity by the end of 2026, according to a new analysis by UN Women. This disruption is driving up energy, fertilizer, and transport costs, with rising food prices placing further pressure on livelihoods and household resources. The analysis, titled "Food Security Risks of the Middle East Escalation for Women and Girls," estimates that women and girls could account for 53% of the projected 22 million additional people who may face food insecurity by the end of the year across 28 countries.
The analysis notes that the figures are scenario-based estimates and not forecasts. UN Women Deputy Executive Director, Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda, stated that when food becomes scarce, women often eat less and last, shifting to less nutritious diets or skipping meals to prioritize the needs of others. Existing inequalities in employment and access to financial services often leave women with fewer resources to absorb economic shocks. Gumbonzvanda emphasized that investing in women and girls is crucial for ensuring the well-being of families and communities.
The analysis identified disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz as a significant factor driving up energy, fertilizer, and transport costs, which could further raise food prices. Potential income and livelihood losses could compound the pressure, making food increasingly difficult for vulnerable households to afford. Women are particularly exposed due to existing inequalities in employment and access to financial services. The report linked women's employment status to food security, noting that about 80% of women are outside the labor force in Egypt, Iraq, Palestine, Sudan, and Syria.
In some countries, women and girls could constitute a disproportionately high share of those facing food insecurity. In Afghanistan, they are estimated to account for 60% of people who could face food insecurity, while the proportion is more than 57% in Yemen and nearly 56% in Sudan. South Sudan, Sudan, Haiti, Yemen, and Palestine are facing more concentrated risks due to overlapping vulnerabilities. In South Sudan, the additional number of women and girls who could face food insecurity represents about 14% of the country's female population, the highest proportion among the countries analyzed.
The report also highlighted the limited access to financial services for women, which could increase their reliance on informal lenders, relatives, or other household members, potentially exposing them to safety and protection risks. In Iraq, Lebanon, Pakistan, and Yemen, fewer than one in five women owns a bank or mobile money account, limiting their ability to save, receive remittances or cash assistance, or borrow safely when prices rise or incomes fall.
UN Women called for an integrated response combining food and cash assistance with nutrition, protection, livelihoods, and agricultural support. The agency urged measures to ensure women have access to land, credit, services, and other productive assets, while directing resources to areas where women and girls face multiple, overlapping risks. Assistance should be delivered at the appropriate time, including ahead of agricultural seasons, and better data is needed to identify where food insecurity is worsening.
UN Women joined calls for de-escalation and respect for international law, echoing the United Nations Secretary-General's call for all concerned parties to pursue diplomatic solutions that advance regional and international peace and security. The agency stressed that investing in women and girls is a sure way of ensuring the well-being of families and communities, and that an integrated response is necessary to address the food insecurity crisis.
Key points
- The Middle East crisis may push 11.7 million women and girls into food insecurity by the end of 2026.
- Women and girls could account for 53% of the projected 22 million additional people who may face food insecurity by the end of the year across 28 countries.
- Existing inequalities in employment and access to financial services often leave women with fewer resources to absorb economic shocks.
