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Severe earthquakes devastate Venezuela while Ebola spreads in Congo and fragile Middle East truces falter.
A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the Philippines on June 29. This follows June 24 tremors in Venezuela that left 1.2 million tonnes of debris in La Guaira. Meanwhile, the Democratic Republic of Congo banned mass gatherings in its capital to contain a spreading Ebola outbreak. These sudden disasters affect populations already managing long-term crises. In Sudan, 11.8 million IDPs, or internally displaced people, remain forced from their homes by civil war, which is more than the population of Sweden. Rescue operations in Venezuela and the Philippines will face logistical delays as aftershocks continue.
Global food prices remain high, driven by surging cooking oil costs in May 2026. This economic pressure worsens conditions in conflict zones like Yemen, where 21.6 million people need humanitarian aid. The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran is critical here. If negotiations over the Strait of Hormuz fail and shipping is blocked, food transport to East Africa and the Middle East will slow down. Furthermore, Pakistan and Afghanistan remain in an active border war that disrupts regional trade routes. Diplomatic agreements on maritime navigation will directly determine whether food supplies reach vulnerable regions this year.
Watch items
- Iran — Strait of Hormuz blockade impact on food imports
- Venezuela — Earthquake debris blocking aid routes in La Guaira
- DR Congo — Ebola outbreak overwhelming fragile capital health infrastructure