Gender alert: Food security risks of the Middle East escalation for women and girls

https://www.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/publications/2026/10/gender-alert-food-security-risks-of-the-middle-east-escalation-for-women-and-girls Based on analysis of data from 28 countries, UN Women estimated that an additional 11.7 million women and girls could face food insecurity by the end of 2026 as the escalation and disruptions drive up food, energy, fertilizer, and transport costs. Across the 28 countries analyzed, women and girls account for 53 per cent of the projected 22 million additional people who could face food insecurity by the end of the year. These scenario-based estimates and come on top of an estimated 208 million women and girls already facing food insecurity across the countries analyzed.