Global Food Crisis Oil Price Shock Africa Economy Energy Imports IMF Warning — A crowded port in West Africa seen at sunset with cargo ships waiting far offshore.

IMF warns that war’s devastating human impact reaches far beyond Middle East

War Fears Spark Hunger Worries and Higher Bills Far From the Battlefield

By Fahad On Apr 17, 2026

IMF – (Web Desk) – IMF experts said Thursday that a war in Iran could cause deep harm around the world. The pain will be especially sharp for nations that buy most of their energy.

The Strait of Hormuz is a key waterway for global oil and gas. It is now mostly blocked. This shutdown has actually helped some oil sellers like Nigeria and Algeria earn more money.

But the situation is grim for other countries. They depend on imports for food, power, and farm supplies. Rising prices are squeezing their budgets hard.

Abebe Selassie leads the IMF’s work in Africa. He warned that nations without oil wealth are in a tight spot. Their trade gaps are growing and they lack spare cash for hard times.

He said the human cost will be serious. An IMF report notes that hunger could hit 20 million more people in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In the Sahel region, poverty is already high. Food costs will jump due to costly fertilizer and expensive trucking. People in rural zones feel this burden the most.

This crisis comes as foreign aid drops sharply. Selassie noted this is not a short dip. It is a lasting shift that hurts fragile states the most. These places use aid just to run basic health and food services.

The IMF also watches small Pacific islands with worry. Krishna Srinivasan leads the Asia team. He said these islands rely heavily on fuel shipments. Long shipping routes make them very exposed.

The wider Asian region also feels the heat. It spends nearly twice as much of its economic output on oil and gas compared to Europe.

Some countries like Malaysia and Thailand are very exposed. They spend about a tenth of their total economy just on fuel imports.

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In the Middle East, the outlook has darkened fast. Jihad Azour said growth forecasts are falling at a pace not seen since the big financial crash.

Borrowing costs are climbing across the board. This makes life harder for governments already deep in debt.

Food is a huge problem for the poorest in that area. In places like Yemen and Sudan, food makes up almost half of all imports. Many people there are already going hungry.

So what is the advice? IMF leaders keep saying the same thing. They urge governments to keep relief efforts small and short. Budgets are already too stretched to handle more.