UN warns of worsening hunger crisis in West and Central Africa
The United Nations World Food Programme has raised concerns about escalating hunger in West and Central Africa, with Nigeria among the most severely affected countries. According to the agency, millions in the region face crisis levels of food insecurity due to conflict, displacement, and reduced humanitarian aid. The situation in Nigeria’s Borno State is particularly dire, with thousands at risk of catastrophic hunger. The WFP is calling for urgent funding and action to prevent further deterioration.
TLDR
- The United Nations World Food Programme says Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon, and Niger account for 77% of the region’s food-insecure population.
- About 15,000 people in Borno State are at risk of catastrophic hunger for the first time in nearly a decade.
- Funding shortfalls have forced the WFP to reduce nutrition programmes in Nigeria, affecting over 300,000 children.
- Only 72,000 people in Nigeria can be reached in February, compared to 1.3 million assisted during the previous lean season.
- The WFP stresses the need for over $453 million in the next six months to maintain humanitarian assistance in West and Central Africa.
