Nigeria, 17 Others Listed Among Hunger Crisis Hotspots

On Wednesday, two United Nations food agencies issued a warning indicating that millions more people globally may confront the risk of famine, exacerbated by significant funding shortfalls in already critical situations.

A joint report from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) highlighted that ongoing conflict and violence are major contributors to acute food insecurity in many of the countries identified as being at high risk.

The report identified Haiti, Mali, Palestine, South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen as the most severely affected regions, where populations are facing an imminent threat of catastrophic hunger.

Several other countries were classified as having “very high concern,” including Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar, Nigeria, Somalia, and Syria.

The situation has also raised alarms in Burkina Faso, Chad, Kenya, and regarding the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

“We are on the brink of a completely preventable hunger catastrophe that threatens widespread starvation in multiple countries,” said WFP Executive Director Cindy McCain, warning that a failure to act “will only drive further instability, migration, and conflict.”

Funding for humanitarian relief was falling “dangerously short,” the report stated, noting that only $10.5 billion had been received out of the required $29 billion to assist those at risk.

WFP said that due to funding cuts, it had reduced assistance for refugees and displaced people while suspending school feeding programmes in some countries.

FAO warned that efforts to protect agricultural livelihoods were threatened, “which are essential for stabilising food production and preventing recurring crises.”

Funding was needed for seeds and livestock health services, it said, “before planting seasons begin or new shocks occur.”