The war could also drive tens of millions around the world into acute hunger. But the war’s economic impact is already severe, particularly for poorer countries where higher energy costs and a shortage of fertiliser are pushing up food prices and threatening millions with hunger. The United Nations World Food Programme warned last week that if it persists, the war could push an additional 45 million people into acute hunger. This could see a repeat of what happened after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when global hunger reached a record level as food prices shot up quickly but were slow to come down. India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, where tens of millions of small farmers rely on subsidised fertiliser to boost crop yields, are especially vulnerable.

Source: The Irish Times March 23, 2026 06:55 UTC