ELZUBI to Asharq: 5 Million More People Join Hunger in the Arab World

ELZUBI told Asharq that an additional 5 million people are being pushed into food insecurity across middle- and low-income Arab countries. The escalating conflict is generating interconnected shocks across vital sectors, threatening human security and economic stability.

Food prices are rising by up to 20%, worsening living conditions in fragile, conflict-affected states with limited financial resources and heavy dependence on food imports. These figures call for urgent, coordinated cooperation to safeguard essential supply chains, establish early warning systems, strengthen strategic reserves, diversify trade routes, and invest in resilient energy, water, and food systems.

Fuel price increases, shipping disruptions, and higher fertilizer costs are expected to further raise food prices and production costs, disproportionately affecting low-income households and vulnerable groups. The Arab region faces economic output losses estimated at $150 billion in just one month due to these disruptions.

Key Recommendations

• Protect vital supply chains:
  • Establish rapid response teams
  • Strengthen strategic reserves of essential goods
  • Expand storage and distribution mechanisms
• Early warning and continuous assessment:
  • Develop risk-monitoring systems
  • Enhance intergovernmental cooperation
• Diversify trade and production:
  • Support diversification of food and essential commodity suppliers
  • Encourage local food production
• Strengthen resilience in energy, water, and food:
  • Invest in multi-source energy systems to reduce dependence on a single supply
  • Improve water resource management, recycled water infrastructure, and sustainable planning
  • Enhance agricultural efficiency and adopt fertilizer cost-reduction technologies
• Social protection and economic support:
  • Temporary social safety programs targeting the most vulnerable households
  • Direct income support and improved access to essential goods

Actionable Proposals Within 90 Days

• Develop a joint national priority map with governments, donors, and the private sector
• Establish an emergency food/oil reserve fund covering 6–12 weeks of basic needs
• Launch early warning programs in the most vulnerable sectors with updated price data
• Facilitate import procedures for essential food and fuel through temporary tax exemptions or trade facilitation
• Strengthen regional cooperation on alternative trade routes and cross-border movement of vital goods

Country Breakdown

1. Conflict-affected or highly fragile states:
   1. Syria: over 14.5 million food insecure
   1. Yemen: more than 17 million in crisis or emergency levels
   1. Sudan: among the world’s worst crises, with famine in some areas affecting over 24 million
2. Net food-importing countries (most exposed to price shocks):
   1. Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, Morocco
   1. Direct impacts: food inflation, trade balance deficits, fiscal pressure on subsidies
3. Low-income / economically fragile states:
   1. Mauritania, Djibouti, Comoros