18.1m at risk in Bangladesh, WFP warns

At least to 18.1 million people in Bangladesh could face acute food insecurity if a potential fertiliser crisis triggered by rising urea prices and supply disruptions persists, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned.

According to a recent WFP report, Bangladesh imports about 80 percent of its urea fertiliser from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

The agency said the country currently has sufficient urea stocks to meet demand until October, but warned that prolonged supply disruptions could affect agricultural production.

The report said urea prices have risen by around 50 percent, while three of Bangladesh’s five state-owned urea fertiliser factories have suspended production because of gas shortages, increasing the risk of a fertiliser shortfall.

WFP warned that the combined impact of higher fertiliser prices and supply constraints could leave an estimated 18.1 million people facing acute food insecurity if the situation persists.