The World Food Programme (WFP) was established in 1961 by the United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to provide food assistance to populations affected by emergencies. Initially created as a temporary program, it became a permanent organization in 1965 after successfully responding to early crises, including an earthquake in Iran and the resettlement of 50,000 Nubian people. The WFP combats global hunger by delivering emergency food aid and advancing long-term food security and development initiatives. Its mission includes assisting victims of conflict and natural disasters, supporting displaced populations, responding to pandemics and epidemics, and promoting sustainable solutions to hunger and malnutrition. The WFP’s emergency preparedness and response efforts are coordinated through its Operations Center (OPSCEN), which provides the operational foundation for urgent decision-making and rapid, coordinated responses during crises. OPSCEN also strengthens inter-agency coordination through the UN information exchange network, linking with other UN operations centers and Geographic Information Support teams to monitor and respond to unfolding emergencies. To maintain constant situational awareness, OPSCEN operates a 24-hour, seven-days-a-week hotline through which regional and country directors can report critical incidents and rapidly share information during emergencies.

The Sahel War is an ongoing conflict in the West African countries of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The conflict began in 2012 when extremist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State took control of large parts of Mali. Since then, the violence has spread across all three countries. The two main armed groups are Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) and the Islamic State Sahel Province (IS Sahel). Both groups have attacked civilians, blockaded towns, and taken over key roads and supply routes. This has made it extremely difficult to move food and aid across the region. All three countries are now ruled by military governments that have expelled Western forces and brought on Russian military support instead. They have also become increasingly hostile to international aid organizations, arresting aid workers and restricting where humanitarian groups can operate. Today, millions of people across the Sahel are facing severe food insecurity. Entire communities have been emptied by violence, leaving displaced populations with no access to food or clean water. Children are especially at risk, with rising rates of malnutrition reported across all three countries. Donor funding for the region is also shrinking at a time when needs are growing. Delegates will need to find ways to safely deliver aid to isolated and displaced populations. However, that cannot be done without addressing restricted humanitarian access, the targeting of aid workers, and the collapse of supply routes caused by the ongoing fighting.