United Nations (UN) agencies on Tuesday warned that acute food insecurity in West and Central African countries is expected to reach its highest level in 10 years by June this year, reported The UN News.
According to a regional food security analysis report released by the World Food Programme (WFP), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Humanitarian agency OCHA, and UNICEF, about 45,000 people in the Sahel, 42,000 in Burkina Faso and 2,500 in Mali are likely to experience catastrophic levels of hunger or are pretty close to face the risk of famine.
The analysis found an 83% increase in global acute malnutrition compared to the average for 2015-2022. As per the report, about 16.5 million children under the age of 5 will face acute malnutrition in 2023, of which 4.8 million will suffer from the severe debilitating form.
The UN agencies warned that food insecurity is widely spreading in coastal countries. The conflict-affected areas of Burkina Faso and Mali are facing catastrophic levels of hunger as humanitarian assistance in those areas is severely hampered by insecurity.
As per the UN agencies report, the total number of people who are deprived of access to safe and nutritious food is expected to reach 48 million during the lean season from June to August 2023, marking a fourfold increase in the past five years. The study results further confirm a longer-term trend towards a geographic expansion of food security.
The report claims that conflict, climate shocks, high food prices and COVID-19 have exacerbated hunger and malnutrition levels in the region.
“The spiralling food security and nutrition situation in Western Africa is just heart-breaking,” said Chris Nikoi, Regional Director for the World Food Programme (WFP).
He said it is crucial to increase investment in building the capacity of the people to withstand shocks while prioritizing local and long-term solutions for food production, processing and access for vulnerable groups.
